Compare towns
Johnson vs Sheldon vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Johnson | Sheldon | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,450Highest |
2,267 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
| Waterville and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 10.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Waterville and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
| Sheldon and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $169,400±$62kLowest 46% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Sheldon and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$45Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
| Sheldon and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,310Lowest 34% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,957Highest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±20.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Johnson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 42% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Johnson 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 | #57 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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.