Compare towns
Windsor vs Northfield vs Swanton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.2%).
Northfield has the most expensive homes ($274k median).
Swanton has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
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 | Windsor | Northfield | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,554 |
5,920Highest |
2,670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.5Highest 4% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
37.8±4.7 12% below VT |
| Windsor and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
$71,768±$13kHighest 12% below VT |
$66,607±$27k 18% below VT |
| Northfield and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
$229,000±$15k 28% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,026±$89 17% below VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,238±$103Highest about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,209Highest 3% above VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$4,370Lowest 13% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.5%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1956Highest 20 yrs older than VT |
1952 24 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 3% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Northfield and Windsor 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 | #61 of 70 in VT | #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.