What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).

Swanton has the most people working from home (8.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Stratton	Swanton
People
Population	532Lowest	6,820Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+4.3% VT: +2.8%
Median age	31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT	43.7±5.5Highest about the VT average
Kids under 18	28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9%	20.7%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Stratton and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4%	19.5%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.2%Highest VT: 43.8%	23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7%	3%±1.6Highest VT: 7%
	Swanton and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT	$81,371±$14kLowest about the VT average
	Stratton and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT	$285,100±$35kLowest 10% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,208±$979Lowest about the VT average	$1,257±$133Highest about the VT average
	Swanton and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,750Highest 6% below VT	$4,449Lowest 12% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4%	32.7%±14.2Highest VT: 48.4%
	Swanton and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	0%Lowest VT: 10.1%	13%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%	77.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT	1976Lowest same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 39% above VT	23 minLowest about the VT average
Work from home	3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9%	8.1%±3.6Highest VT: 16.9%
	Swanton and Stratton 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	—	#27 of 70 in VT
School district	—	Missisquoi Valley School District #89
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.