Compare towns
Swanton vs Sheldon vs Bakersfield vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Swanton has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
Bakersfield has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Swanton | Sheldon | Bakersfield | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,670Highest |
2,267 |
1,109Lowest |
1,590 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
46.4±8Highest 8% above VT |
38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6 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+ | 19.3%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bakersfield and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$83,462±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
| Bakersfield and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $229,000±$15kLowest 28% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$271,300±$19k 14% below VT |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
| Sheldon and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,238±$103 about the VT average |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,200±$327 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 | $4,370Highest 13% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,823 24% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±21.6 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100 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 | 20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 9% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin and Bakersfield 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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.