Compare towns
Danby 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
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
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 | Danby | Sheldon | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,133Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| Danby and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4Lowest 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+ | 24.3%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Danby and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13kLowest 5% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41kLowest 14% below VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 36% 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 | $4,543 10% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 26% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | 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 | 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.