Compare towns
Swanton vs Sheldon vs Berkshire
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 most renters (35.2% rent).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
Berkshire has the youngest population (median age 31.6).
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 | Berkshire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,670Highest |
2,267 |
1,745Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-8.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.8±4.7 12% below VT |
40.9±3.5Highest 5% below VT |
31.6±6.9Lowest 27% below VT |
| Sheldon and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.3%±8.1 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
27.2%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Berkshire and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
14.8%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Swanton and Berkshire 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% |
22%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Berkshire and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$71,406±$21k 12% below VT |
| Sheldon and Berkshire 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 |
$244,600±$26k 23% below VT |
| Sheldon and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,238±$103Lowest about the VT average |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,525±$267Highest 24% above VT |
| Berkshire and Sheldon 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 |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±21.6 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
57.4%±52.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Berkshire 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% |
14.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
77.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 9% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
32 minHighest 37% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Berkshire 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 |
| 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.