Compare towns
Swanton vs White River Junction vs Northfield
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).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Northfield has the most homeowners (73.5%).
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 | White River Junction | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,670Lowest |
3,364 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.8±4.7Highest 12% below VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
36.4±4.1 16% below VT |
| Swanton and Northfield 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% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton and White River Junction 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Northfield 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% |
38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT |
$77,168±$4kHighest 5% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
| White River Junction and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $229,000±$15kLowest 28% below VT |
$278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| White River Junction and Northfield 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 |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| Swanton and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,370Lowest 13% below VT |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±21.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and White River Junction 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% |
12.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.8% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1963Highest 13 yrs older than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 9% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| White River Junction and Northfield 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 | — | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | — | — | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
| 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.