Compare towns
Sheldon vs Williston vs Ira
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 kids (23.7% under 18).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Williston | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267 |
10,144Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Ira 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
| Williston 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±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Ira 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| 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.