Compare towns
Sheldon vs Worcester vs Sandgate vs Irasburg
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 expensive homes ($272k median).
Worcester has the most renters (14.1% rent).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Irasburg has the highest household income ($99k).
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 | Worcester | Sandgate | Irasburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
831 |
435Lowest |
1,384 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
40.3±5.3Lowest 6% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
24.4%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Irasburg and Sheldon 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% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2 VT: 21.4% |
| Sandgate and Worcester 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% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.8% VT: 43.8% |
23.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Irasburg 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 |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$98,534±$13kHighest 21% above VT |
| Irasburg 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±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$230,800±$22k 27% below VT |
| Sheldon and Worcester 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 |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
— | $1,063±$86 14% below VT |
| Sheldon and Irasburg 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 |
$4,421Highest 12% below VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$3,966 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
17%±28.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Worcester and Irasburg 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% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.7%±2.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Worcester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District |
| 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 | 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.