Compare towns
Sheldon vs Windham vs Reading 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).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Swanton has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Windham | Reading | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
594Lowest |
699 |
6,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+4.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
43.7±5.5 about the VT average |
| Reading and Windham 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% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 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%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Windham 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% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Reading and Swanton 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 |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$81,371±$14k about the VT average |
| Windham and Reading 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 |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$285,100±$35k 10% below VT |
| Reading and Windham 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 |
— | $1,100±$331Lowest 11% 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 |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$4,449 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Windham 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
77.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Windham 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 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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 | 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.