Compare towns
Swanton vs Sheldon vs Franklin vs Vernon
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%).
Franklin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
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 | Franklin | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,670 |
2,267 |
1,590Lowest |
2,709Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
42.6±5.4Highest about the VT average |
| Vernon 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% |
23.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest 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% |
15.3%±1.4 VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Vernon 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% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
26.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Vernon 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±$25k 3% below VT |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
| Vernon 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±$61k 14% below VT |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
$285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
| Vernon and Sheldon 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 |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,023±$214 17% 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 | $4,370 13% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±21.6 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
76.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 9% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
25 minHighest 8% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 7.4%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin 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 | — | — | — | #30 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Vernon School District |
| 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.