Compare towns
Vernon vs Swanton vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Swanton has the most affordable homes ($229k median).
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
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 | Vernon | Swanton | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,709Highest |
2,670 |
2,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.4Highest about the VT average |
37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Vernon and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.3%±8.1Highest 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+ | 22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest 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+ | 26.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest 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 | $85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
$66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below 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 | $285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
$229,000±$15kLowest 28% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% 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 | $1,023±$214Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,238±$103 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 | $5,191Highest 3% above VT |
$4,370 13% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±3.7 VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest 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 | 5.5% VT: 10.1% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.2% VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
21 min 9% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest 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 | Vernon School District | — | 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.