Compare towns

Swanton vs Sheldon 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 affordable homes ($229k median).
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
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.

MeasureSwantonSheldonVernon
People
Population
2,670
2,267Lowest
2,709Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.4%
VT: +2.8%
-2.5%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
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%
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%
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%
26.6%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±1.7
VT: 7%
2%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
3%±1.7Highest
VT: 7%
Vernon 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±$25k
3% below VT
$85,682±$9kHighest
6% above VT
Vernon and Sheldon 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
$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
$1,023±$214Lowest
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
$3,578Lowest
29% below VT
$5,191Highest
3% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
36.1%±21.6Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
26.2%±3.7
VT: 48.4%
Swanton and Vernon 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%
5.5%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
89%Highest
VT: 73.2%
76.2%
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 min
9% below VT
25 minHighest
7% above VT
20 minLowest
14% below VT
Work from home
7.4%±4.8
VT: 16.9%
13%±3.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
6.4%±3.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Sheldon and Swanton 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 Vernon School District
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.