Compare towns
Sheldon vs Proctor vs Chester
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).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Proctor | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267 |
1,794Lowest |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
| Chester and Proctor 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% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Proctor 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% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Sheldon and Proctor 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 |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Sheldon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Sheldon and Proctor 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 |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$4,262Highest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Proctor and Chester 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% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Chester and Sheldon 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 | — | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
8.7 |
| 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.