Compare towns
Sheldon vs Meredith vs Proctor vs Swanton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 54.3).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
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 | Meredith | Proctor | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
1,467Lowest |
1,794 |
6,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
54.3±4.6Highest 40% above U.S. |
42.4±6.4 9% above U.S. |
43.7±5.5 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$85,938±$16kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$74,167±$12kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$81,371±$14k about the U.S. average |
| Meredith 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 18% below U.S. |
$230,600±$24k 31% below U.S. |
$209,900±$17kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$285,100±$35kHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Swanton 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 9% below U.S. |
$794±$175Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,029±$202 27% below U.S. |
$1,257±$133 11% below U.S. |
| 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 15% above U.S. |
$3,630 16% above U.S. |
$4,032 29% above U.S. |
$4,449Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±53.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
13% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
23 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon and Meredith 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 | — | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.