Compare towns
Wardsboro vs Stratton vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wardsboro has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Wardsboro | Stratton | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 820 |
532Lowest |
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 |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
40.9±3.5 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Sheldon 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Sheldon and Stratton 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 |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Stratton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
$1,208±$979Lowest about the VT average |
$1,286±$379 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 | $4,345 14% below VT |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Stratton 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±5.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 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 | 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.