Compare towns
Lowell vs Middlesex vs Sheldon vs Irasburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the most kids (30.7% under 18).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Irasburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Lowell | Middlesex | Sheldon | Irasburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,070Lowest |
1,943 |
2,267Highest |
1,384 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
40.3±5.3 6% below VT |
| Middlesex and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
24.4%±3 VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2 VT: 21.4% |
| Middlesex and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
23.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$98,534±$13k 21% above VT |
| Middlesex and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$230,800±$22k 27% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $945±$46Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,063±$86 14% below VT |
| Middlesex and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,966 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±92.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
17%±28.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Lowell and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1984Lowest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 55 minHighest 135% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.5%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
5.7%±2.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Lowell School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.