Compare towns
Bethel vs Enosburgh vs Sheldon vs Shoreham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethel has the oldest housing (typical home built 1966).
Enosburgh has the most renters (24.3% rent).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Shoreham has the most people working from home (15.9%).
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 | Bethel | Enosburgh | Sheldon | Shoreham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,736 |
2,804Highest |
2,267 |
1,269Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±3.7 18% above VT |
40.6±3.9Lowest 6% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
51.8±7.2Highest 20% above VT |
| Shoreham and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Enosburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Shoreham and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.7% VT: 43.8% |
20.1% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.1 VT: 7% |
| Enosburgh and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,822±$7k 7% below VT |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$93,654±$23kHighest 15% above VT |
| Shoreham and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,000±$41k 25% below VT |
$223,100±$39kLowest 30% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$316,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Shoreham and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT |
$852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,306±$335 6% above VT |
| Bethel and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,168Highest about the VT average |
$3,624 28% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,713 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±22Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±48.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Bethel and Enosburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% VT: 10.1% |
13.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6% VT: 73.2% |
75.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
32 minHighest 36% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.9%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Shoreham 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 | — | #26 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | White River Unified School District #79 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.