Compare towns
Sheldon vs Dover vs Franklin
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 homeowners (89%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($247k 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 | Sheldon | Dover | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
1,466Lowest |
1,590 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Franklin 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% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Dover 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 |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average |
| Franklin 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±$61k 14% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$247,400±$66kLowest 22% below VT |
| Dover 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 |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$891±$266 28% below VT |
| Sheldon and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578 29% below VT |
$4,510Highest 10% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Franklin and Dover 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1983Lowest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
25 minHighest 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Franklin 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.