Compare towns
Richford vs Northfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
Northfield has the most people working from home (12.1%).
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 | Richford | Northfield | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,467Lowest |
5,920Highest |
2,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39±3.6Highest 10% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
37.8±4.7 12% below VT |
| Richford and Swanton 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% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest 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%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Richford and Northfield 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% |
34.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±3.6 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,853±$13kLowest 30% below VT |
$71,768±$13kHighest 12% below VT |
$66,607±$27k 18% below VT |
| Northfield and Swanton 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 |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
$229,000±$15k 28% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,160±$66 6% below VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% 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 | $3,300Lowest 35% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$4,370 13% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1956Highest 20 yrs older than VT |
1952 24 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 9.8%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Northfield 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — |
| High school in town | Richford Junior/Senior High School | Northfield Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
10.0Highest |
— |
| 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.