Compare towns
Sheldon vs Lowell vs Proctor
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 people working from home (13%).
Lowell has the most kids (30.7% under 18).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
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 | Lowell | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
1,070Lowest |
1,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
42.4±6.4Highest about the VT average |
| Proctor and Sheldon 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% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
19.2% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Proctor and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
| Sheldon and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$209,900±$17k 34% below VT |
| Sheldon and Proctor 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 |
$945±$46Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
| Sheldon and Proctor 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 |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$4,032Highest 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Proctor and Lowell 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% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%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 |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Proctor 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 | Lowell School District | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.