Compare towns
Randolph vs Swanton vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
Swanton has the most affordable homes ($229k median).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | Randolph | Swanton | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,843Highest |
2,670 |
2,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
40.9±3.5Highest 5% below VT |
| Sheldon and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Randolph and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
| Sheldon and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,700±$38kHighest 12% below VT |
$229,000±$15kLowest 28% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Randolph and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173Lowest 5% below VT |
$1,238±$103 about the VT average |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,698Highest 7% below VT |
$4,370 13% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% VT: 10.1% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 12% below VT |
21 min 9% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Randolph 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 | #55 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4 |
— | — |
| 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.