Compare towns
Cavendish vs Sheldon vs Worcester vs Whitingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cavendish has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.8%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k 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 | Cavendish | Sheldon | Worcester | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
2,267Highest |
831Lowest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
| Worcester and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29kHighest 10% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
| Cavendish 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±$40kHighest 10% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$262,300±$30kLowest 17% below VT |
| Cavendish and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
| Sheldon and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948 22% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 18 photos → | 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.