Compare towns
Proctor vs Sheldon vs Swanton
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 ($210k median).
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
Swanton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
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 | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,794Lowest |
2,267 |
6,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
43.7±5.5Highest about the VT average |
| Swanton and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.7Lowest 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+ | 22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Proctor and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,167±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$81,371±$14kHighest about the VT average |
| Swanton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$285,100±$35kHighest 10% below VT |
| Swanton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,029±$202Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,257±$133 about the VT average |
| Sheldon and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,032 20% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,449Highest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Proctor and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
77.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Proctor 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 | — | — | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.

