Compare towns
Danby vs Sheldon 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 most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,133Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest 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 |
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%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Wells and Danby 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±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
| Sheldon and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41kHighest 14% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
| Wells and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543Highest 10% below VT |
$3,578 29% below 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% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Danby 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% VT: 73.2% |
89%Lowest 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 |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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.