Compare towns
Vernon vs Worcester vs Sheldon vs Wallingford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Wallingford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
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 | Vernon | Worcester | Sheldon | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,709Highest |
831Lowest |
2,267 |
2,286 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+2.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
45.9±10.8 6% above VT |
| Worcester and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wallingford and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.6% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
| Vernon and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$261,900±$44kLowest 17% below VT |
| Vernon and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$214 17% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
| Sheldon and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,191Highest 3% above VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,355 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±3.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Vernon and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Vernon School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| 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.