Compare towns
Richford vs Ripton 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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Ripton | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,467 |
508Lowest |
2,670Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39±3.6 10% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
| Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest 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%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Richford 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% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±3.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,853±$13kLowest 30% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$66,607±$27k 18% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,600±$16kLowest 44% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$229,000±$15k 28% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,160±$66Lowest 6% 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 |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,370 13% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±15.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Richford and Ripton 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% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1952 24 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 9.8%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | Richford Junior/Senior High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1 |
— | — |
| 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.