Compare towns
Exeter vs Sheldon vs Franklin vs Mansfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most homeowners (97.7%).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
Franklin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Mansfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
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 | Exeter | Sheldon | Franklin | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913 |
2,267Highest |
1,590 |
691Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
38.8±6.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
54±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Mansfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±7.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franklin and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,550±$19kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$79,917±$21k about the U.S. average |
$83,304±$14kHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Mansfield and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$247,400±$66k 26% below U.S. |
$200,000±$29kLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$891±$266 37% below U.S. |
— |
| Sheldon and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$3,384 8% above U.S. |
$4,122Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±42.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Franklin and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Franklin and Exeter 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 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.