Compare towns
Swanton vs Williston vs Springfield
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 most homeowners (77.9%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Williston | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,820Lowest |
10,144Highest |
9,084 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.5 about the VT average |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Springfield and Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
| Williston 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±$35k 10% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,257±$133 about the VT average |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,449Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #64 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Springfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3 |
| 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.