Compare towns
Waitsfield vs Sheldon vs Waitsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waitsfield has the highest household income ($84k).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Waitsfield has the oldest population (median age 74.8).
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 | Waitsfield | Sheldon | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,918 |
2,267Highest |
193Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
74.8±13.4Highest 74% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
0%±14.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
71.5%±17.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63.6% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
71.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±9.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Waitsfield and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$34kHighest 4% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$26,384±$5kLowest 68% below VT |
| Waitsfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,400±$92k 33% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$453,100±$98kHighest 43% above VT |
| Waitsfield and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$821Lowest about the VT average |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
— |
| Sheldon and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,208Highest 23% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,688 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±30.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.1%±49.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Waitsfield and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
3.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
33.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
14 minLowest 40% below VT |
| Work from home | 19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
31%±23.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waitsfield and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.