Compare towns
Sheldon vs Strafford vs Whiting
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
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 | Strafford | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
1,372 |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Strafford 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 3% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
| Strafford and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
| Sheldon and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Strafford School District | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| 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 |
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.