What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).

White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sheldon	White River Junction
People
Population	2,267Lowest	3,364Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	40.9±3.5Highest 5% below VT	33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT
Kids under 18	23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9%	17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Sheldon and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	12.6%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4%	12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Sheldon and White River Junction 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%	38.9%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.3Highest VT: 7%	1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7%
	Sheldon and White River Junction 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	$77,168±$4kLowest 5% below VT
	Sheldon and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT	$278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT
	White River Junction 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	$1,222±$216Lowest about the VT average
	Sheldon and White River Junction 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	$5,651Highest 12% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4%	42.9%±17.3Highest VT: 48.4%
	White River Junction 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%	12.1%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Highest VT: 73.2%	43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT	1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 7% above VT	15 minLowest 35% below VT
Work from home	13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9%	15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9%
	White River Junction 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	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.