Compare towns
Sheldon vs Topsham vs Swanton
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 kids (23.7% under 18).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
Swanton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
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 | Topsham | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267 |
999Lowest |
6,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+4.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
50.1±5.9Highest 16% above VT |
43.7±5.5 about the VT average |
| Topsham 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% |
18%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.7 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% |
23.2%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Topsham 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% |
28.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±1.6Highest 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±$25k 3% below VT |
$72,308±$60kLowest 11% below VT |
$81,371±$14kHighest about the VT average |
| Swanton 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 |
$222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
$285,100±$35kHighest 10% 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 |
$908±$398Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,257±$133 about the VT average |
| 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 |
$4,006 21% below VT |
$4,449Highest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
13% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
90.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
77.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Topsham 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 | — | — | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Waits River Union High District #36 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| 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.