Compare towns

Sheldon vs Middlesex 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).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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.

MeasureSheldonMiddlesexSwanton
People
Population
2,267
1,943Lowest
6,820Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+2.8%
VT: +2.8%
+4.3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
40.9±3.5Lowest
5% below VT
44.4±3.9Highest
3% above VT
43.7±5.5
about the VT average
Middlesex 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%
21.3%±3.1
VT: 17.9%
20.7%±4.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Sheldon and Middlesex 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%
20.6%±3.7Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.5%±3.2
VT: 21.4%
Middlesex 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%
54.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
23.3%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
5.2%±2.6Highest
VT: 7%
3%±1.6
VT: 7%
Middlesex 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±$25kLowest
3% below VT
$109,632±$13kHighest
35% above VT
$81,371±$14k
about the VT average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$272,400±$61kLowest
14% below VT
$376,300±$40kHighest
19% above VT
$285,100±$35k
10% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,286±$379
4% above VT
$1,333±$359Highest
8% above VT
$1,257±$133Lowest
about the VT average
Middlesex 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
$6,483Highest
29% above VT
$4,449
12% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
32.7%±14.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
Swanton and Sheldon 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%
3.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
13%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89%
VT: 73.2%
96.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
77.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984
8 yrs newer than VT
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
1976Lowest
same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
7% above VT
27 minHighest
17% above VT
23 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
13%±3.7
VT: 16.9%
28.4%±10.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
8.1%±3.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — — #27 of 70 in VT
School district Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 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.