Compare towns
Sheldon vs Swanton vs Franklin
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 homeowners (89%).
Swanton has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Franklin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267 |
2,670Highest |
1,590Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-2.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Highest 5% below VT |
37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
| Sheldon and Franklin 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% |
24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton 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% |
19.3%±2.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Swanton and Franklin 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% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT |
$79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average |
| Franklin 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±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$229,000±$15kLowest 28% below VT |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
| Sheldon and Franklin 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 |
$1,238±$103 about the VT average |
$891±$266Lowest 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 | $3,578 29% below VT |
$4,370Highest 13% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6 VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Franklin and Swanton 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% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
25 minHighest 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin 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 | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school 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.