Compare towns
Swanton vs Jay vs Springfield vs Milton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Swanton has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Milton has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Swanton | Jay | Springfield | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,820 |
471Lowest |
9,084 |
10,769Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.5 about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
41.6±2.5Lowest 3% below VT |
| Jay and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
16%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Springfield and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Milton and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,371±$14k about the VT average |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$118,977±$10kHighest 47% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$35k 10% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$372,500±$20kHighest 18% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,257±$133 about the VT average |
— | $963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,536±$257Highest 24% above VT |
| Milton and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,449 12% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$5,610Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
53.1%±20.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Milton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1985 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±2.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Springfield 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | #56 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Milton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Springfield High School | Milton Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3Highest |
9.3Lowest |
| 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.