Compare towns
Sheldon vs Stratton vs Wardsboro
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).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Wardsboro has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
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 | Stratton | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
532Lowest |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro 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 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Sheldon and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
| Stratton and Sheldon 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,208±$979Lowest about the VT average |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Sheldon 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 |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$4,345 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Wardsboro 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 | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school 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.