Compare towns
Sheldon vs Orange vs Franklin
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 expensive homes ($272k median).
Orange has the oldest population (median age 50.3).
Franklin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Orange | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
957Lowest |
1,590 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Franklin 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% |
19.4%±4Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Orange and Franklin 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% |
22.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$71,302±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average |
| Franklin 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±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
| Sheldon and Franklin 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 |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
| Orange and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578Highest 29% below VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Franklin and Sheldon 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% |
7.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% above VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin and Orange 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | 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.