Compare towns
Sheldon vs Bow vs Swanton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Swanton has the most renters (22.1% 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 | Sheldon | Bow | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267Lowest |
8,335Highest |
6,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
43.7±5.5Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Swanton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Swanton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$81,371±$14k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$285,100±$35k 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,257±$133Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Bow and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$4,449 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bow and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Bow School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.