West Swanton-Alburg Bridge, Lake Champlain (66403), c. 1930
Swanton’s story
222 years in pictures
The archive holds 12 old photos and papers going back to 1930 and 4 maps from 1914 on.
- 1804Swanton is settled
SwantonVT
Population
2,380
2025 Census estimate · +1.5% since 2020
Typical home
$340K
−0.3% in a year
Household income
$67K
median
Median age
37.8
years
Jobs based here
831
Balanced
Is Swanton a good place to live?
The best of Swanton’s subject grades is an A for history; the weakest is a C for incomes. Only 14 of Vermont’s 172 towns score lower on health. Swanton is more walkable than 76% of U.S. towns. Among 72 Vermont towns, just 3 have a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Swanton. 1.9% of the land in Swanton is conserved, below Vermont’s towns (14%) and close to U.S. towns (4.3%). Swanton has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Swanton stand out
Where Swanton beats most towns.
How Swanton grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Vermont), ordered by how far Swanton is from typical.
WalkabilityEPA walkability 12.7 of 20; 12% of households have no carA−Open →Jobs & income$67K median household incomeCOpen →SafetyB+Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 31% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listB+Open →SchoolsBeat 67% of Vermont districts on tests and graduationB+Open →Cost of livingC+Open →HealthNorthwestern Medical Center 8.5 miles awayB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors2% conserved landB−Open →HistoryAOpen →Civic life3.6 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsCOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Swanton: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Swanton, and how to reach them.
PowerVillage of SwantonEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterSwanton Village WaterNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Swanton’s trash rules yet
SchoolsMissisquoi Valley School District 89Missisquoi Valley School District (Supervisory)2 districts serve Swanton; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn Vermont you can register online up to and including Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (received by Election Day).vote.govWho runs elections hereSwanton Town ClerkTown of Swanton; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2026
ZIP code0548805488 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Swanton.
SafetyB+
Less crime per resident in Swanton than in 69% of U.S. towns
At 7 per 1,000 residents, Swanton’s property crime rate is below both the Vermont town median (13.9) and the median of U.S. towns (9.9).
69%of U.S. towns report more crimeB+Safety Grade
| Swanton | Vermont towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 7 per 1,000 residents | 13.9 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 1.2 per 1,000 residents | 1.8 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Swanton1.2
Vermont2.2
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Swanton7
Vermont14.5
U.S.15.5
69th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
8
violent crimes reported in 2025
48
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B+
Swanton faces a low natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 69% of U.S. communities. Since 2011, 2 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Swanton.
31risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingEarthquakesCold waves
2
paid flood claims since 2011
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Swanton has snowy winters and pleasant summers
Swanton has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Swanton’s July high is 80°F.
80″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter13–29°
Spring34–53°
Summer58–78°
Fall40–57°
Oct 12
typical first frost
May 1
typical last frost
+1.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C
With 0.8 jobs for every working resident, most of Swanton’s workers commute out
Most working residents leave Swanton for work: only 8% work in town. 20% of residents live below the poverty line in Swanton. Jobs based in Swanton grew to 831 in 2023, 391 more than in 2013.
8%work in town
| Swanton | Vermont towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 20% | 9.5% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 21 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $67,000 | $80,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 7.6% | 16% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Swanton8%
Swanton15%
St. Albans13%
St. Albans12%
Burlington10%
19 mi
median commute distance
831
jobs based in Swanton
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
A−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 76% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HousingCost of living grade C+
Swanton’s typical home value is about $340K
The typical Swanton home is worth about $340,000, about the same as a year ago, 13% below the Vermont typical home. 65% of Swanton households own their home.
$340KZillow home value
| Swanton | Vermont towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 65% | 75% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,238 a month | $1,135 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Swanton$340K
Vermont$392K
−0.3%
value change, 1 year
2
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
1.9%conserved
1.9%
conserved · 10 of 498 acres
0.3 mi
of trails · 0.4 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Marble Mill Park | 0.1 mi | 5 |
| 2. Village Green Park | 0.2 mi | 2 |
| 3. John Raleigh III Memorial Field | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HealthB−
On CDC estimates, Swanton is healthier than 52% of U.S. towns
Swanton beats the Vermont average on 0 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 17. Only 3 of the 72 Vermont towns we compare have a higher share of adults who have obesity than Swanton.
52%healthier than U.S. townsB−Health Grade
| Swanton | Vermont towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 38% | 30% | 35% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 16% | 17% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 13% | 14% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 34% | 30% | 36% |
31 measures vs. Vermont
0 better14 too close to call17 worse
| What stands out | Swanton | VT |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 17.6% | 10.1% |
| More adults facing a utility shut-off | 7.8% | 5.7% |
| More adults facing food insecurity | 12.3% | 9.2% |
Northwestern Medical Center
8.5 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Swanton
19pages on Swanton
The big questions
SchoolsB+Beat 67% of VT districtsSafetyB+1.2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthB−Better than VT on 0 of 31 CDC measuresCost of livingC+$340K typical home · down 0.3% in a yearWork & commuteC$67K median household income · 831 jobs hereNatural hazardsB+FEMA risk higher than 31% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Swanton; the nearest are
State University of New York at PlattsburghUniversity or college · Public · Plattsburgh, NY23.4 mi$9,035 in-state tuitionClinton Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Plattsburgh, NY24.7 mi$6,831 in-state tuition
About 2 of every 100 Swanton residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Vermont.
Questions about Swanton
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Swanton, VT expensive?
That is 3.7 years of the area's median household income ($93,043 across the Burlington-South Burlington, VT metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C+.