Compare towns

Troy vs Sheldon vs Williston vs Irasburg

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Troy has the oldest housing (typical home built 1980).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Irasburg has the most kids (24.4% under 18).

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.

MeasureTroySheldonWillistonIrasburg
People
Population
1,749
2,267
10,144Highest
1,384Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.6%
VT: +2.8%
-2.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+16.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+6%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.5±5.7
3% above VT
40.9±3.5
5% below VT
45.4±4.5Highest
5% above VT
40.3±5.3Lowest
6% below VT
Williston and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.4%±3.9
VT: 17.9%
23.7%±3.6
VT: 17.9%
20.5%±5.2Lowest
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+
17.7%±3
VT: 21.4%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
21%±3.5Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.5%±2
VT: 21.4%
Williston and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
20.2%
VT: 43.8%
14.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
54.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
23.6%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±1.4
VT: 7%
2%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
5.7%±2.7Highest
VT: 7%
3%±2.5
VT: 7%
Williston and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$87,938±$11k
8% above VT
$78,533±$25kLowest
3% below VT
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above VT
$98,534±$13k
21% above VT
Williston and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$233,200±$21k
26% below VT
$272,400±$61k
14% below VT
$475,800±$40kHighest
50% above VT
$230,800±$22kLowest
27% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$646±$323Lowest
48% below VT
$1,286±$379
4% above VT
$1,832±$130Highest
48% above VT
$1,063±$86
14% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,644
28% below VT
$3,578Lowest
29% below VT
$5,592Highest
11% above VT
$3,966
21% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.8%±26.3
VT: 48.4%
0%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±17.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
17%±28.2
VT: 48.4%
Williston and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.1%
VT: 10.1%
4.3%
VT: 10.1%
2.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.6%
VT: 73.2%
89%Highest
VT: 73.2%
75.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
86.1%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Lowest
4 yrs newer than VT
1984
8 yrs newer than VT
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
1988
12 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
about the VT average
25 minHighest
7% above VT
20 minLowest
16% below VT
24 min
3% above VT
Work from home
7.8%±2.3
VT: 16.9%
13%±3.7
VT: 16.9%
22.3%±7.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
5.7%±2.1Lowest
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 Troy School District Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District
High school in town None 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.