Compare towns
Richford vs Castleton vs Jay vs Swanton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Richford has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Swanton has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
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 | Richford | Castleton | Jay | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,467 |
4,453Highest |
471Lowest |
2,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39±3.6 10% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
| Jay and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.4%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Richford and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.8% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±3.6 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,853±$13kLowest 30% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$66,607±$27k 18% below VT |
| Jay and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,600±$16kLowest 44% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$234,200±$45kHighest 26% below VT |
$229,000±$15k 28% below VT |
| Jay and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,160±$66 6% below VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
— | $1,238±$103Highest about the VT average |
| Swanton and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,300 35% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$4,370Highest 13% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.5% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1952 24 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
21 min 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 9.8%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — |
| High school in town | Richford Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.