Compare towns
Montgomery vs Putney vs Sheldon vs Richford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
Richford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
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 | Montgomery | Putney | Sheldon | Richford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,047Lowest |
2,622Highest |
2,267 |
2,467 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+1.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
39±3.6 10% below VT |
| Montgomery and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.4%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
20.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.4%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$56,853±$13k 30% below VT |
| Putney and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,200±$45kHighest about the VT average |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$176,600±$16kLowest 44% below VT |
| Montgomery and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $868±$209 30% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,160±$66 6% below VT |
| Sheldon and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,326 14% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,300Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55.1%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.6% VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 58% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Putney and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Richford Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.