Compare towns
Lowell vs Townshend vs Sheldon
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).
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Townshend | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,070Lowest |
1,538 |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest 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+ | 12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Townshend 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% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Lowell and Sheldon 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 |
$78,750±$29kHighest 3% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Townshend and Sheldon 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 |
$287,200±$79kHighest 9% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Townshend and Sheldon 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 |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Townshend 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 |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±92.9 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 55 minHighest 135% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.1 |
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| 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.