Compare towns
Sheldon vs Dorset vs Proctor 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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Troy has the most renters (13.4% 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 | Dorset | Proctor | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
2,092 |
1,794 |
1,749Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
| Dorset and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset 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 VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Dorset 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 VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Proctor and Dorset 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 |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$74,167±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
$87,938±$11k 8% above VT |
| Dorset and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$233,200±$21k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
| Dorset and Sheldon 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 |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$3,644 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Proctor 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% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%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 |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Troy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
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| 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.