What stands out worked out from the figures below

Richford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).

Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k 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	Richford	Sheldon
People
Population	2,467Highest	2,267Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.6%Highest VT: +2.8%	-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	39±3.6Lowest 10% below VT	40.9±3.5Highest 5% below VT
	Sheldon and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±4Lowest VT: 17.9%	23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9%
	Sheldon and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.4%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4%	12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.8%Highest VT: 43.8%	14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.4%±3.6Highest VT: 7%	2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%
	Richford and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,853±$13kLowest 30% below VT	$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT
	Sheldon and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$176,600±$16kLowest 44% below VT	$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,160±$66Lowest 6% below VT	$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT
	Sheldon and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,300Lowest 35% below VT	$3,578Highest 29% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.1%±15.9Highest VT: 48.4%	0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4%
Below poverty line	19.5%Highest VT: 10.1%	5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.4%Lowest VT: 73.2%	89%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT	1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 18% above VT	25 minLowest 7% above VT
Work from home	9.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9%	13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9%
	Sheldon and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88	Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85
High school in town	Richford Junior/Senior High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.1	—
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.