Compare towns
Sheldon vs Whiting vs Chittenden
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 affordable homes ($272k median).
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
Chittenden has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
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.
| Measure | Sheldon | Whiting | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
532Lowest |
1,318 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -1.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
50.8±6.3Highest 18% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest 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% |
13%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chittenden 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% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
51.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$106,250±$28kHighest 31% above VT |
| Chittenden and Whiting 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 |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$346,800±$35kHighest 10% above VT |
| Chittenden and Whiting 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 |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$1,125±$488Lowest 9% below VT |
| 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 |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$5,346Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
14.8%±55.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Chittenden 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% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±3.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Chittenden 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 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 |
| 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.