Compare towns
Sandgate vs Sheldon vs Swanton vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Sheldon has the highest household income ($79k).
Swanton has the most renters (35.2% rent).
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).
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 | Sandgate | Sheldon | Swanton | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435 |
2,267 |
2,670Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
| Sandgate and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest 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+ | 26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Ira and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,167±$19k 15% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
| Sheldon and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$229,000±$15k 28% below VT |
$272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
| Ira and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,238±$103 about the VT average |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Sheldon and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$4,370Highest 13% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ira and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 17 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | — |
| High school 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.