Compare towns

Richford vs Windsor 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).
Windsor has the most renters (42.2% rent).
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.

MeasureRichfordWindsorJaySwanton
People
Population
2,467
3,554Highest
471Lowest
2,670
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.6%
VT: +2.8%
+0.2%
VT: +2.8%
+5.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-2.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
39±3.6
10% below VT
44.8±6.5
4% above VT
52.1±10.5Highest
21% above VT
37.8±4.7Lowest
12% below VT
Jay and Windsor 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%
19.5%±5.2
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%±4.4
VT: 21.4%
29.7%±6.9Highest
VT: 21.4%
15.5%±6.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
19.3%±2.7
VT: 21.4%
Windsor 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%
39.7%
VT: 43.8%
45.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
20.2%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.4%±3.6Highest
VT: 7%
0.7%±0.8Lowest
VT: 7%
1.9%±2.5
VT: 7%
2.2%±1.7
VT: 7%
Richford and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$56,853±$13k
30% below VT
$52,484±$11kLowest
35% below VT
$74,792±$25kHighest
8% below VT
$66,607±$27k
18% below VT
Jay 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
$207,500±$31k
34% 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
$1,026±$89Lowest
17% 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
$5,209Highest
3% above VT
$3,588
29% below VT
$4,370
13% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.1%±15.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
31.5%±17Lowest
VT: 48.4%
40%±100
VT: 48.4%
36.1%±21.6
VT: 48.4%
Richford and Jay 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%
7.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.7%
VT: 10.1%
20.1%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
70.4%
VT: 73.2%
57.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
97%Highest
VT: 73.2%
64.8%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1945
31 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
23 min
3% below VT
40 minHighest
69% above VT
21 minLowest
9% below VT
Work from home
9.8%±3.9
VT: 16.9%
10.3%±5
VT: 16.9%
27.3%±13.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
7.4%±4.8Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Jay and Windsor 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 — #61 of 70 in VT — —
School district Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 — Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District —
High school in town Richford Junior/Senior High School — None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
9.1
— — —
On TownTapestry
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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.