Compare towns
Sheldon vs Salisbury vs Strafford
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).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
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 | Salisbury | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
1,200Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
50.6±6.5 17% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Salisbury 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% |
16.6%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Strafford 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% |
30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$306,900±$51k 3% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| Salisbury 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 |
$4,842 4% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Salisbury 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% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% above VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford and Sheldon 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Strafford School District |
| 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.