Compare towns
Newark vs Sheldon vs Groton vs Halifax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newark has the most affordable homes ($230k median).
Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Groton has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
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 | Newark | Sheldon | Groton | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 727Lowest |
2,267Highest |
967 |
847 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.4±6 4% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
45.7±5.8Highest 6% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
| Groton and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±3 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3 VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Halifax and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.1% VT: 43.8% |
44.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9 VT: 7% |
| Groton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,929±$7k 10% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
| Sheldon and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $229,900±$23kLowest 27% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$243,000±$70k 23% below VT |
$267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
| Sheldon and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
$875±$154 29% below VT |
| Newark and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,771 25% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,659 27% below VT |
$4,991Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9 VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Halifax and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.8% VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 44% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
30 min 29% above VT |
33 min 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | Halifax 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 | 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.