What stands out worked out from the figures below

Kirby has the most expensive homes ($303k median).

Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Kirby	Wheelock
People
Population	756Highest	717Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-6.4% VT: +2.8%
Median age	38.8±7.1Lowest 10% below VT	51±5.6Highest 18% above VT
	Wheelock and Kirby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	30%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9%	18.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	19.2%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4%	29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.4%Lowest VT: 43.8%	34.9%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±3.1Highest VT: 7%	2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7%
	Kirby and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$54,792±$21kLowest 33% below VT	$64,792±$20kHighest 20% below VT
	Wheelock and Kirby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$302,900±$63kHighest 4% below VT	$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,250±$326 about the VT average	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,597Highest 9% below VT	$2,937Lowest 42% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25%±100Highest VT: 48.4%	0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Kirby and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	21.3%Highest VT: 10.1%	8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.5%Lowest VT: 73.2%	97.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Lowest 9 yrs newer than VT	1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 43% above VT	28 minLowest 17% above VT
Work from home	20.6%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9%	21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9%
	Wheelock and Kirby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.