Compare towns
Sheldon vs Lempster vs Irasburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
Lempster has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Irasburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Sheldon | Lempster | Irasburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
953Lowest |
1,384 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
50.8±7.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
40.3±5.3Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Lempster and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.4%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Irasburg and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lempster and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$86,607±$12k 7% above U.S. |
$98,534±$13kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Irasburg and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$241,900±$29k 27% below U.S. |
$230,800±$22kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
— | $1,063±$86Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,558Highest 46% above U.S. |
$3,966 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17%±28.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lempster and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.7%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Lempster School District | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.