Compare towns
Cavendish vs Sheldon vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cavendish has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.8%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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 | Cavendish | Sheldon | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,242Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Cavendish and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
| Sheldon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948 22% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Cavendish and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 18 photos → | 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.