What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wardsboro has the oldest population (median age 51.6).

Sheldon has the highest household income ($79k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Wardsboro	Sheldon
People
Population	820Lowest	2,267Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8%	-2.5%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT	40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT
	Wardsboro and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.8%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9%	23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9%
	Sheldon and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4%	12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.9%Highest VT: 43.8%	14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7%	2%±1.3Highest VT: 7%
	Sheldon and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT	$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT
	Sheldon and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$299,300±$47kHighest 5% below VT	$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT
	Wardsboro and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT	$1,286±$379Lowest 4% above VT
	Wardsboro and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,345Highest 14% below VT	$3,578Lowest 29% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4%	0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Wardsboro and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Highest VT: 10.1%	5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.4%Highest VT: 73.2%	89%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT	1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 14% above VT	25 minLowest 7% above VT
Work from home	13.3%±5.1Highest VT: 16.9%	13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Wardsboro and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	River Valleys Unified School District #73	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

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.