Compare towns
Sheldon vs Unity vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.5%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Unity | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
1,375Lowest |
1,590 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
38.8±6.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$79,917±$21k about the U.S. average |
| Unity and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$247,400±$66kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Unity and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$891±$266Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Unity and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578 15% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,384Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±42.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Franklin and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Unity School District | 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 |
U.S. 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.