Compare towns

Sheffield vs Wheelock vs Windham vs Ryegate

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).
Wheelock has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Ryegate has the most kids (23.2% 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.

MeasureSheffieldWheelockWindhamRyegate
People
Population
573Lowest
717
594
1,059Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3%
VT: +2.8%
-6.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
-0.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42±8
about the VT average
51±5.6Highest
18% above VT
44.2±7.4
about the VT average
41.2±2.6Lowest
4% below VT
Wheelock and Windham 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%
18.8%±3.5
VT: 17.9%
17.5%±7.9
VT: 17.9%
23.2%±4.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
Ryegate 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%
29.4%±4.7Highest
VT: 21.4%
23.2%±8.1
VT: 21.4%
22.1%±1.5
VT: 21.4%
Wheelock and Windham 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%
34.9%
VT: 43.8%
48.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
29.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
2.8%±2.3
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
2.4%±1.4
VT: 7%
Sheffield and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$58,333±$26kLowest
28% below VT
$64,792±$20k
20% below VT
$94,500±$12kHighest
16% above VT
$66,484±$15k
18% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$171,900±$50kLowest
46% below VT
$189,600±$37k
40% below VT
$353,900±$20kHighest
12% above VT
$219,300±$32k
31% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$967±$79Highest
22% below VT
— —
$908±$236Lowest
26% below VT
Sheffield and Ryegate 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
$2,937
42% below VT
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
$3,472
31% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.5%±41.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94
VT: 48.4%
55.9%±29.7
VT: 48.4%
Sheffield and Ryegate 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%
8.7%
VT: 10.1%
9.9%
VT: 10.1%
14.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.7%
VT: 73.2%
97.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
82.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987
11 yrs newer than VT
1989Highest
13 yrs newer than VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1949Lowest
27 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
28% above VT
28 min
17% above VT
27 minLowest
14% above VT
28 min
18% above VT
Work from home
6.1%±2.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
21.1%±16Highest
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
8.2%±3.7
VT: 16.9%
Wheelock and Windham 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 — — —
High school 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.