Compare towns
Berkshire vs Sheldon vs Swanton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berkshire has the youngest population (median age 31.6).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
Swanton has the most renters (35.2% rent).
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 | Berkshire | Sheldon | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,745Lowest |
2,267 |
2,670Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-2.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 31.6±6.9Lowest 27% below VT |
40.9±3.5Highest 5% below VT |
37.8±4.7 12% below VT |
| Sheldon and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.3%±8.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Berkshire and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.8%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±2.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Swanton and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Berkshire and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,406±$21k 12% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT |
| Sheldon and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $244,600±$26k 23% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$229,000±$15kLowest 28% below VT |
| Sheldon and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,525±$267Highest 24% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,238±$103Lowest about the VT average |
| Berkshire and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$4,370Highest 13% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±52.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Berkshire and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 37% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.