Compare towns
Waterford vs Sheldon vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Groton has the most affordable homes ($243k 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 | Waterford | Sheldon | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,279 |
2,267Highest |
967Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±5.3 5% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
45.7±5.8Highest 6% above VT |
| Groton and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Waterford and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Groton and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,375±$19kHighest 35% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$77,250±$14kLowest 5% below VT |
| Waterford and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,500±$22k 14% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$243,000±$70kLowest 23% below VT |
| Sheldon and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,238Highest 16% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,659 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Groton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 99%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 4% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
30 minHighest 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.3%±7.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Waterford and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | 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.