Compare towns
Sheldon vs Brunswick 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 kids (23.7% under 18).
Brunswick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Swanton has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
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 | Brunswick | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267Lowest |
17,652Highest |
6,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
37.9±2.2Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±5.5Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Swanton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Swanton 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% |
23%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brunswick and Swanton 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% |
51.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.4%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$70,722±$5kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$81,371±$14kHighest about the U.S. 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 | $272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$363,200±$18kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$285,100±$35k 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,465±$100Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,257±$133Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Brunswick 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. |
$4,477Highest 44% above U.S. |
$4,449 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.8%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
23 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brunswick and Sheldon 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 | — | #30 of 133 in ME | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.