Compare towns
Enosburgh vs Orwell vs Sheldon vs Richford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
Sheldon has the highest household income ($79k).
Richford has the most affordable homes ($177k 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 | Enosburgh | Orwell | Sheldon | Richford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,804Highest |
1,294Lowest |
2,267 |
2,467 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.6±3.9 6% below VT |
47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
39±3.6Lowest 10% below VT |
| Orwell and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.4%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.1% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
20.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.4%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Richford and Enosburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,828±$17k 21% below VT |
$70,417±$22k 13% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$56,853±$13kLowest 30% below VT |
| Sheldon and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $223,100±$39k 30% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$176,600±$16kLowest 44% below VT |
| Orwell and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,160±$66 6% below VT |
| Sheldon and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,624 28% below VT |
$3,914Highest 22% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,300Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±11.2 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55.1%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.9% VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 36% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Orwell 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 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School | None in town | None in town | Richford Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Highest |
— | — | 9.1Lowest |
| 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.