What stands out worked out from the figures below

Swanton has the most expensive homes ($285k median).

Williamstown has the most people working from home (13.9%).

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	Swanton	Williamstown
People
Population	6,820Highest	3,579Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.3%Highest VT: +2.8%	+3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	43.7±5.5Highest about the VT average	42±5Lowest about the VT average
	Swanton and Williamstown 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%	19.9%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Swanton and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.5%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4%	17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Swanton and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.3%Highest VT: 43.8%	17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7%	4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7%
	Williamstown 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±$14kLowest about the VT average	$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT
	Williamstown and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$285,100±$35kHighest 10% below VT	$234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT
	Swanton and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,257±$133Lowest about the VT average	$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,449Highest 12% below VT	$3,841Lowest 24% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.7%±14.2Lowest VT: 48.4%	83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4%
	Williamstown and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13%Highest VT: 10.1%	8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	90.7%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest same as VT	1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest about the VT average	23 minLowest about the VT average
Work from home	8.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9%	13.9%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9%
	Williamstown and Swanton 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	#47 of 70 in VT
School district	Missisquoi Valley School District #89	Paine Mountain Union School District #68
High school in town	None in town	Williamstown Middle/High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.