Compare towns
Johnson vs Saco vs Swanton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Swanton has the shortest commute (21 min average).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Johnson | Saco | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,450 |
20,819Highest |
2,670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 30.9±6.5Lowest 21% below U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
37.8±4.7 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±5 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Swanton and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 10.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Swanton and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,346±$14kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$92,241±$11kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$66,607±$27k 17% below U.S. |
| Saco and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $169,400±$62kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$229,000±$15k 31% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$45Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,249±$385Highest 12% below U.S. |
$1,238±$103 12% below U.S. |
| Saco and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,310Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
$4,370 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±20.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±21.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Johnson and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #57 of 70 in VT | #38 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Saco Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.