What stands out worked out from the figures below

Swanton has the most expensive homes ($229k median).

Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Swanton	Washburn
People
Population	2,670Highest	1,355Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-9.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.8±4.7Lowest about the U.S. average	48.2±7.7Highest 24% above U.S.
	Washburn 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 U.S.: 22%	21.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Swanton and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Washburn 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 U.S.: 35.7%	26%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Washburn and Swanton 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 17% below U.S.	$56,196±$6kLowest 30% below U.S.
	Swanton and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$229,000±$15kHighest 31% below U.S.	$112,900±$14kLowest 66% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,238±$103Highest 12% below U.S.	$482±$62Lowest 66% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,370Highest 40% above U.S.	$1,571Lowest 50% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.1%±21.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.3%±24.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Swanton and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	20.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	12.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	78.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.	1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 19% below U.S.	21 minLowest 21% below U.S.
Work from home	7.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	9.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Washburn and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	RSU 45/MSAD 45
High school in town	—	Washburn District High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.0
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.