Compare towns
Swanton vs White River Junction vs Sheldon
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).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | White River Junction | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,670 |
3,364Highest |
2,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.8±4.7 12% below VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
40.9±3.5Highest 5% 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%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 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%±2.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Swanton and Sheldon 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 |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
| Sheldon and White River Junction 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 |
$278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| White River Junction 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 |
$1,222±$216Lowest about the VT average |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above 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 |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±21.6 VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| White River Junction 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% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.8% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1963 13 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 9% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| White River Junction 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 |
| High school 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.