Compare towns
Orleans vs Sheldon vs Barton vs Whiting
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orleans has the oldest population (median age 41.7).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
Barton has the most people working from home (16.5%).
Whiting has the highest household income ($91k).
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 | Orleans | Sheldon | Barton | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 809 |
2,267Highest |
730 |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 41.7±5.8Highest 3% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
40±5.5 7% below VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
| Orleans and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Barton and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.8% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $57,159±$10k 30% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
| Whiting and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $156,300±$18k 51% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$280,400±$36kHighest 11% below VT |
| Whiting and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $810±$94 34% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
| Sheldon and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,185 37% below VT |
$4,227Highest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
65.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 33% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Barton 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 | — | — | #38 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school 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.