Compare towns
Proctor vs Sheldon vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($206k median).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Northfield has the most renters (26.5% rent).
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 | Proctor | Sheldon | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,586Lowest |
2,267 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±8.9Highest 10% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Proctor and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,060±$12k 8% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Sheldon and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $206,000±$20kLowest 35% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
| Northfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,059±$200 14% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| Sheldon and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944 22% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.4%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 5% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 10%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Northfield 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 | — | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
| 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.