What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).

Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sheldon	Topsham
People
Population	2,267Highest	999Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT	50.1±5.9Highest 16% above VT
	Topsham and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9%	18%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Sheldon and Topsham 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%	23.2%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8%	28.1%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.3Highest VT: 7%	1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%
	Sheldon and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT	$72,308±$60kLowest 11% below VT
	Sheldon and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT	$222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT
	Sheldon and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT	$908±$398Lowest 26% below VT
	Sheldon and Topsham 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	$4,006Highest 21% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4%	91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4%
Below poverty line	5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1%	18.8%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Lowest VT: 73.2%	90.3%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT	1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 7% above VT	35 minHighest 49% above VT
Work from home	13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9%	14.2%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9%
	Topsham 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	Waits River Union High District #36
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.