Compare towns
Swanton vs Brandon vs Richford
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 kids (24.3% under 18).
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Richford has the most affordable homes ($177k 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 | Brandon | Richford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,670 |
4,120Highest |
2,467Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
39±3.6 10% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4 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+ | 19.3%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
23.4%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Richford and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
6.4%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Richford and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,607±$27kHighest 18% below VT |
$64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
$56,853±$13kLowest 30% below VT |
| Swanton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $229,000±$15kHighest 28% below VT |
$227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
$176,600±$16kLowest 44% below VT |
| Swanton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,238±$103Highest about the VT average |
$1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,160±$66 6% below VT |
| Swanton and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,370Highest 13% below VT |
$4,241 16% below VT |
$3,300Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±21.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
55.1%±15.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Richford and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
19.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Highest 24 yrs older than VT |
1951 25 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 9% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.8%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Brandon and Richford 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 | — | #69 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | — | Otter Valley Union High School | Richford Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Highest |
9.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.