Compare towns
Swanton vs Williston 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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,670 |
10,144Highest |
2,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest 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%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,238±$103Lowest about the VT average |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,370 13% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±21.6 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 9% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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.