Compare towns
Sheldon vs Chester vs Troy
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Chester | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267 |
2,992Highest |
1,749Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
| Chester and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Chester and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$87,938±$11kHighest 8% above VT |
| Troy 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±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$233,200±$21k 26% below VT |
| Sheldon and Troy 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 |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
| Sheldon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,262Highest 15% below VT |
$3,644 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Troy and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Chester 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Troy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.