Compare towns
Bolton vs Sheldon vs Waterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Waterbury has the most expensive homes ($447k median).
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 | Bolton | Sheldon | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,163Lowest |
2,267 |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
43.2±3.7Highest about the VT average |
| Waterbury and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Waterbury and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,125±$17kHighest 37% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$103,917±$23k 28% above VT |
| Bolton and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$42k about the VT average |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$447,200±$40kHighest 41% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$273Highest 5% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
| Bolton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,826 4% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,435Highest 28% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±30.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Waterbury and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
7.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1983Lowest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waterbury and Bolton 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 | — | — | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None 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.