What stands out worked out from the figures below

Readsboro has the oldest population (median age 50.7).

Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).

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	Readsboro	Sheldon
People
Population	807Lowest	2,267Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8%Lowest VT: +2.8%	-2.5%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	50.7±3.9Highest 18% above VT	40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT
Kids under 18	6.9%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9%	23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	20.6%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4%	12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.7%Highest VT: 43.8%	14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7%	2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%
	Readsboro and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$55,268±$12kLowest 32% below VT	$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT
	Sheldon and Readsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$215,500±$52kLowest 32% below VT	$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT
	Sheldon and Readsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$724±$32Lowest 41% below VT	$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,480Lowest 31% below VT	$3,578Highest 29% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	17.4%±24.3Highest VT: 48.4%	0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Readsboro and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.3%Highest VT: 10.1%	5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2%	89%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT	1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 35% above VT	25 minLowest 7% above VT
Work from home	7.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9%	13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9%
	Sheldon and Readsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Readsboro 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

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.