Compare towns
Swanton vs Ripton 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Ripton | Richford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,670Highest |
508Lowest |
2,467 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
39±3.6 10% below VT |
| Ripton and Richford 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.4%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Richford 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
6.4%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,607±$27k 18% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$56,853±$13kLowest 30% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $229,000±$15k 28% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$176,600±$16kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,238±$103Highest about the VT average |
— | $1,160±$66Lowest 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 |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,300Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±21.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
55.1%±15.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Richford and Ripton 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% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
19.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 24 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 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% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.8%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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 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.