Compare towns
Sheldon vs Panton vs Proctor 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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Panton has the most people working from home (26.7%).
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 | Panton | Proctor | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
690Lowest |
1,794 |
6,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+4.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
42.7±3.8 about the VT average |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
43.7±5.5Highest about the VT average |
| Swanton and Panton 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% |
24.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Panton and Sheldon 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% |
16.7%±2.9 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor 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% |
35.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| 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 3% below VT |
$86,667±$10kHighest 7% above VT |
$74,167±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
$81,371±$14k about the VT average |
| Panton 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 14% below VT |
$438,000±$40kHighest 38% above VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$285,100±$35k 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,410±$130Highest 14% above VT |
$1,029±$202Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,257±$133 about the VT average |
| Panton 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 |
$6,695Highest 33% above VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$4,449 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61%±39Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Panton and Proctor 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% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
13% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
77.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
26 minHighest 11% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±8.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 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 | — | 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 |
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.