Compare towns
Sheldon vs Proctor vs Dorset
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).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
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 | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
1,794Lowest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
| Dorset and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset 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% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Dorset 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% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Proctor and Dorset 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 |
$74,167±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
| Dorset 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±$61k 14% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,029±$202Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
| Dorset 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 |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Proctor 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% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest 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 minHighest 7% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| 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 |
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.