Compare towns
Sheldon vs Topsham vs Wells vs Enosburgh
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Topsham has the most people working from home (14.2%).
Wells has the most homeowners (93.4%).
Enosburgh has the most renters (24.3% 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 | Topsham | Wells | Enosburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
999Lowest |
1,148 |
2,804Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
50.1±5.9 16% above VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
40.6±3.9Lowest 6% below VT |
| Wells and Topsham 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%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Enosburgh 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%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Enosburgh and Wells 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±$60k 11% below VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below VT |
| Sheldon and Wells 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 |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
$223,100±$39k 30% below VT |
| Sheldon and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$908±$398 26% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
$852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
| Wells and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578 29% below VT |
$4,006Highest 21% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$3,624 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Wells 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% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
13.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% above VT |
35 min 49% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
32 min 36% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Topsham and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #26 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Waits River Union High District #36 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.4 |
| 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.