Compare towns
Newark vs Sheldon vs Middlesex vs Sunderland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newark has the most affordable homes ($230k median).
Sheldon has the most renters (11% rent).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Sunderland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
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 | Newark | Sheldon | Middlesex | Sunderland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 727Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,943 |
1,269 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+10.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.4±6 4% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
40.8±2.8Lowest 5% below VT |
| Middlesex and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±3 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.6%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Sunderland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
16.7%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Middlesex and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Sunderland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,929±$7kLowest 10% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$88,523±$16k 9% above VT |
| Middlesex and Sunderland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $229,900±$23kLowest 27% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$300,000±$43k 5% below VT |
| Middlesex and Sunderland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
$1,286±$379Lowest 4% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,413±$242 15% above VT |
| Newark and Sunderland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,771 25% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,136 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.5%±61.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Sunderland and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8% VT: 73.2% |
89%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
91.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 44% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
23 minLowest 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.