Compare towns
Lowell vs Sheldon vs Albany
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 affordable homes ($183k median).
Sheldon has the highest household income ($79k).
Albany has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Sheldon | Albany |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,070 |
2,267Highest |
934Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
42.4±6.2Highest about the VT average |
| Albany and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 30.7%±6.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
31%±10.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Albany and Lowell 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% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
16.4%±6.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Albany and Sheldon 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.3%±4.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Albany and Lowell 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 |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$59,167±$14k 27% below VT |
| Sheldon and Albany 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 |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$231,500±$12k 27% below VT |
| Sheldon and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $945±$46Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,114±$23 10% below VT |
| Sheldon and Albany 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 |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$4,093Highest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±92.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44%±65.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Albany and Lowell 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1983Lowest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 55 minHighest 135% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
20%±11.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Albany and Sheldon 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 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle 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.