Compare towns
Sheldon vs Underhill vs Wells
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).
Underhill has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Underhill | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267 |
3,141Highest |
1,148Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill 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 VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6 VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Underhill 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% |
50.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Underhill 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±$25k 3% below VT |
$92,267±$54kHighest 14% above VT |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
| Underhill 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±$61k 14% below VT |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Lowest 4% above VT |
— | $1,313±$282Highest 6% above 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 |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Sheldon 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% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
79.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Underhill 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 | — | #2 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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.