Compare towns
Groton vs Lowell vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Groton has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Groton | Lowell | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 967Lowest |
1,070 |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±5.8Highest 6% above VT |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Groton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.2% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Groton and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
| Sheldon and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$70k 23% below VT |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
| Sheldon and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
$945±$46 23% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,659Highest 27% below VT |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.5%±72.9 VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Lowell and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% VT: 10.1% |
9.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
94.1% VT: 73.2% |
89%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 29% above VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7 VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Lowell School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school 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.