Compare towns
Topsham vs Sheldon vs Walden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
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 | Topsham | Sheldon | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 999Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±5.9Highest 16% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
| Topsham and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Topsham and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
26.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Walden and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,308±$60kLowest 11% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
| Walden and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
| Sheldon and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$398 26% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| Sheldon and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,006Highest 21% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.3% VT: 73.2% |
89%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 49% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Waits River Union High District #36 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| 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.