What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marlboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+59.7%).

Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).

Marlboro is a college town. 42.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Marlboro	Sheldon
People
Population	1,362Lowest	2,267Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+59.7%Highest VT: +2.8%	-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	22.7±2.1Lowest 47% below VT	40.9±3.5Highest 5% below VT
Kids under 18	12%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9%	23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	18.8%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4%	12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.7%Highest VT: 43.8%	14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	42.7%±4.8Highest VT: 7%	2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,135±$10kLowest 5% below VT	$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT
	Sheldon and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$357,300±$55kHighest 13% above VT	$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT
	Marlboro and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,600±$824Highest 30% above VT	$1,286±$379Lowest 4% above VT
	Marlboro and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,640Highest 12% above VT	$3,578Lowest 29% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.1%±43.6Highest VT: 48.4%	0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Marlboro and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Highest VT: 10.1%	5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.6%Lowest VT: 73.2%	89%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest same as VT	1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 26% below VT	25 minHighest 7% above VT
Work from home	26%±11.2Highest VT: 16.9%	13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Marlboro and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Marlboro 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

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.