Compare towns
Swanton vs Wells 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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Wells | Richford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,670Highest |
1,148Lowest |
2,467 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
39±3.6 10% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest 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% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.4%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Wells 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% |
29.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
6.4%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Richford and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,607±$27k 18% below VT |
$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below VT |
$56,853±$13kLowest 30% below VT |
| Wells 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 |
$243,000±$42kHighest 23% below VT |
$176,600±$16kLowest 44% below VT |
| Wells and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,238±$103 about the VT average |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
$1,160±$66Lowest 6% below VT |
| Wells and Swanton 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 |
$3,308 34% below VT |
$3,300Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±21.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
55.1%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Richford 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% |
15.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
19.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%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 minLowest 9% below VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.8%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Wells and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | 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.