Compare towns
Swanton vs Putney 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).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Richford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
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 | Putney | Richford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,670Highest |
2,622 |
2,467Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.8±4.7 12% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
39±3.6Highest 10% below VT |
| Richford and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest 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%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.4%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Richford and Swanton 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% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
6.4%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,607±$27k 18% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$56,853±$13kLowest 30% below VT |
| Putney and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $229,000±$15k 28% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$176,600±$16kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,238±$103Highest about the VT average |
$508±$482Lowest 59% 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 | $4,370 13% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,300Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±21.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
55.1%±15.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Richford and Putney 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% |
16%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
19.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 24 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 9% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.8%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Richford Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.1 |
| 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.