Compare towns
Sheldon vs Wells River vs Whiting
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%).
Wells River has the most affordable homes ($171k median).
Whiting has the highest household income ($91k).
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 | Wells River | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
340Lowest |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
42.7±12.7Highest about the VT average |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
| Wells River 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% |
17.1%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Whiting 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% |
19.4%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Wells River and Whiting 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% |
16.3% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Sheldon 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 |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
| Whiting 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 |
$170,800±$103kLowest 46% below VT |
$280,400±$36kHighest 11% below VT |
| Whiting and Sheldon 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 |
$900±$336Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
| Sheldon and Whiting 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 |
$4,154 18% below VT |
$4,227Highest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.6%±14.8 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Wells River 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% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
65.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
34 minHighest 43% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Whiting 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 | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| 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.