Compare towns
Sheldon vs Grafton 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).
Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
Swanton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
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 | Grafton | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267 |
666Lowest |
6,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
43.7±5.5 about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Swanton 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% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
7.1%±5Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Grafton 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 |
$76,111±$7kLowest 6% 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±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$343,200±$85kHighest 8% above VT |
$285,100±$35k 10% below VT |
| Grafton and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT |
$1,257±$133Lowest about the VT average |
| Grafton 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 |
$4,843Highest 4% below VT |
$4,449 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Grafton and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
89.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
77.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% above VT |
24 min 4% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Grafton 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 | Athens Grafton School District | 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.