Compare towns

Sheldon vs Orange vs Franklin vs Troy

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%).
Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

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.

MeasureSheldonOrangeFranklinTroy
People
Population
2,267Highest
957Lowest
1,590
1,749
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.5%
VT: +2.8%
-2.2%
VT: +2.8%
-3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+3.6%Highest
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
44.5±5.7
3% above VT
Orange and Troy 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%
15.6%±4.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
23.5%±5.6
VT: 17.9%
21.4%±3.9
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%
17.7%±3
VT: 21.4%
Orange and Troy 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%
20.2%
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%
2.7%±1.4
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$78,533±$25k
3% below VT
$71,302±$13kLowest
12% below VT
$79,917±$21k
about the VT average
$87,938±$11kHighest
8% above VT
Troy and Franklin 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
$233,200±$21k
26% 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±$266
28% below VT
$646±$323Lowest
48% 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
$3,578
29% below VT
$3,545
30% below VT
$3,384Lowest
33% below VT
$3,644Highest
28% 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%
30.8%±26.3
VT: 48.4%
Franklin and Troy 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%
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%
86.6%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1981
5 yrs newer than VT
1983
7 yrs newer than VT
1980Lowest
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
7% above VT
28 minHighest
19% above VT
25 min
8% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
13%±3.7
VT: 16.9%
13.5%±4.3
VT: 16.9%
18.1%±4.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
7.8%±2.3Lowest
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 Troy School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.