Compare towns
Sheldon vs Swanton vs Wallingford
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 people working from home (13%).
Swanton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
Wallingford has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Swanton | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267Lowest |
6,820Highest |
2,286 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
43.7±5.5 about the VT average |
45.9±10.8Highest 6% above VT |
| Wallingford and Swanton 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% |
20.7%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Swanton 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% |
19.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wallingford 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% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Swanton 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 |
$81,371±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
| Swanton and Wallingford 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 |
$285,100±$35kHighest 10% below VT |
$261,900±$44kLowest 17% below VT |
| Swanton and Sheldon 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 |
$1,257±$133 about the VT average |
$891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
| Sheldon and Swanton 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 |
$4,449Highest 12% below VT |
$4,355 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Swanton and Wallingford 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% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
77.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Swanton 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 | — | #27 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.