Compare towns
Danby vs Sheldon vs Dorset vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Danby | Sheldon | Dorset | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133Lowest |
2,267Highest |
2,092 |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
| Danby and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Wells and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
| Dorset and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,313±$282 6% above VT |
| Dorset and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 10% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% VT: 73.2% |
89%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.