Compare towns
Sheldon vs Waterville vs Franklin
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 homeowners (89%).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Franklin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Waterville | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
680Lowest |
1,590 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
| Waterville 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% |
20.4%±8.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Franklin 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% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Franklin and Waterville 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% |
32.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Waterville 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 |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average |
| Franklin 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±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
| Sheldon and Franklin 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 |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
| Sheldon and Waterville 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 |
$3,957Highest 21% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Franklin and Waterville 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% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| 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.