Compare towns
Sheldon vs Waterville vs Wheelock
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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
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 | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
680Lowest |
717 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
| Wheelock and Waterville 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%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Waterville 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% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
34.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Wheelock 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 |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
| Sheldon and Waterville 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±$15k 25% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
| Sheldon and Waterville 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±$93Lowest 10% 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 |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Waterville and Sheldon 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% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock 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 | — |
| 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.