Compare towns
Swanton vs Windsor vs Sheldon vs Franklin
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.2%).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
Franklin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Windsor | Sheldon | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,670 |
3,554Highest |
2,267 |
1,590Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% VT: +2.8% |
+0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
44.8±6.5Highest 4% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
| Windsor 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% |
19.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6 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% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2% VT: 43.8% |
39.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.7 VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,607±$27k 18% below VT |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average |
| Franklin 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±$15k 28% below VT |
$207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
| Sheldon and Franklin 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 |
$1,026±$89 17% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% 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 |
$5,209Highest 3% above VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±21.6 VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2Highest 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% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.8% VT: 73.2% |
57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 24 yrs older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 9% below VT |
23 min 3% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
25 minHighest 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest 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 | — | #61 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.