Compare towns

Swanton vs Sheldon vs Montgomery

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 highest household income ($79k).
Montgomery has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.4%).

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.

MeasureSwantonSheldonMontgomery
People
Population
2,670Highest
2,267
1,047Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.4%
VT: +2.8%
-2.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-1.4%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
37.8±4.7Lowest
12% below VT
40.9±3.5
5% below VT
51.5±11.3Highest
19% above VT
Montgomery 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%
15.5%±4.4Lowest
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%
33.9%±8.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
20.2%
VT: 43.8%
14.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
52.8%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±1.7
VT: 7%
2%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
2.8%±3.2Highest
VT: 7%
Montgomery 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±$27k
18% below VT
$78,533±$25kHighest
3% below VT
$53,289±$24kLowest
34% below VT
Sheldon and Swanton 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
$323,200±$45kHighest
about the VT average
Montgomery 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
$868±$209Lowest
30% 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
$3,578Lowest
29% below VT
$4,326
14% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
36.1%±21.6
VT: 48.4%
0%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
76.6%±68Highest
VT: 48.4%
Montgomery 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%
15.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
89%Highest
VT: 73.2%
80.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952Lowest
24 yrs older than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
9% below VT
25 min
7% above VT
37 minHighest
58% above VT
Work from home
7.4%±4.8Lowest
VT: 16.9%
13%±3.7
VT: 16.9%
16%±5.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
Montgomery 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 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.