Compare towns
Sheldon vs Enosburgh vs Strafford 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).
Enosburgh has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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 | Enosburgh | Strafford | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
2,804 |
1,372Lowest |
6,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+4.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
40.6±3.9Lowest 6% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
43.7±5.5 about the VT average |
| Strafford 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% |
21%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Strafford 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% |
17.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford 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 VT: 43.8% |
20.1% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Enosburgh and Strafford 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 |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$81,371±$14k about the VT average |
| Strafford and Swanton 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 |
$223,100±$39kLowest 30% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$285,100±$35k 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% 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 |
$3,624 28% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,449 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Enosburgh and Strafford 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% |
13.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
13% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
77.9% 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 |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
32 minHighest 36% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford 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 | — | #26 of 70 in VT | — | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Strafford School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— | — |
| 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.