Compare towns
Lowell vs Westfield vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
Westfield has the most people working from home (14.4%).
Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Lowell | Westfield | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,070 |
536Lowest |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
44±19.9Highest about the VT average |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Westfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
27.1%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±11.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2% VT: 43.8% |
27.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Westfield and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
$72,500±$30k 11% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
| Sheldon and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$301,400±$47kHighest 5% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Westfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $945±$46 23% below VT |
$863±$187Lowest 30% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$4,388Highest 13% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±92.9 VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Westfield and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
91.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 55 minHighest 135% above VT |
30 min 29% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.4%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Westfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lowell School District | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school 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.