Compare towns
Sheldon vs Dover vs Proctor vs Swanton
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 kids (23.7% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
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 | Dover | Proctor | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
1,466Lowest |
1,794 |
6,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+4.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
43.7±5.5 about the VT average |
| Dover and Swanton 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Proctor 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% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Proctor 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% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Proctor 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±$25k 3% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$81,371±$14kHighest about the VT 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±$61k 14% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$285,100±$35k 10% below VT |
| Dover and Swanton 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 |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$1,257±$133 about the VT average |
| Sheldon and Swanton 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 |
$4,510Highest 10% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$4,449 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Dover 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
13% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
77.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover 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 | — | — | — | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| 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.