Compare towns
Lowell vs Swanton vs Berkshire
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
Swanton has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Berkshire has the most people working from home (12.1%).
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 | Lowell | Swanton | Berkshire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,070Lowest |
2,670Highest |
1,745 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
-8.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 32.9±6.5 24% below VT |
37.8±4.7Highest 12% below VT |
31.6±6.9Lowest 27% below VT |
| Swanton and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
24.3%±8.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
27.2%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±2.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.8%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Swanton and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
22%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Berkshire and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
$66,607±$27k 18% below VT |
$71,406±$21kHighest 12% below VT |
| Berkshire and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$229,000±$15k 28% below VT |
$244,600±$26kHighest 23% below VT |
| Berkshire and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $945±$46Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,238±$103 about the VT average |
$1,525±$267Highest 24% above VT |
| Berkshire and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$4,370Highest 13% below VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6 VT: 48.4% |
57.4%±52.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Berkshire and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
77.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 55 minHighest 135% above VT |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
32 min 37% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.5%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Berkshire and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lowell School District | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.