Compare towns

Sheffield vs St. Johnsbury vs Wheelock

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
St. Johnsbury has the most renters (40.4% rent).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).

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.

MeasureSheffieldSt. JohnsburyWheelock
People
Population
573Lowest
7,368Highest
717
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.1%
VT: +2.8%
-6.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42±8Lowest
about the VT average
42.8±3.8
about the VT average
51±5.6Highest
18% above VT
Wheelock and St. Johnsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.1%±6.6Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21%±2.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±3.5
VT: 17.9%
St. Johnsbury and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.2%±4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
21.1%±3.6
VT: 21.4%
29.4%±4.7Highest
VT: 21.4%
Wheelock and St. Johnsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
27.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
30.3%
VT: 43.8%
34.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
5.6%±2.2
VT: 7%
2.8%±2.3Lowest
VT: 7%
Sheffield and St. Johnsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$58,333±$26k
28% below VT
$57,738±$9kLowest
29% below VT
$64,792±$20kHighest
20% below VT
Wheelock and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$171,900±$50kLowest
46% below VT
$177,700±$17k
44% below VT
$189,600±$37kHighest
40% below VT
Wheelock and St. Johnsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$967±$79Highest
22% below VT
$914±$44Lowest
26% below VT
—
Sheffield and St. Johnsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,123Lowest
58% below VT
$3,916Highest
22% below VT
$2,937
42% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.5%±41.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
48%±11
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Sheffield and St. Johnsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
16.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.7%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.7%
VT: 73.2%
59.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
97.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987
11 yrs newer than VT
1944Lowest
32 yrs older than VT
1989Highest
13 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
28% above VT
20 minLowest
17% below VT
28 min
17% above VT
Work from home
6.1%±2.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
17.6%±4.8
VT: 16.9%
21.1%±16Highest
VT: 16.9%
Wheelock and St. Johnsbury 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 — #60 of 70 in VT —
School district Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 — —
High school in town None in town — —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.