Compare towns
Waterville vs Sheldon vs Johnson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k 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 | Waterville | Sheldon | Johnson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
2,267 |
3,450Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
| Waterville and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Waterville and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
14.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
| Sheldon and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$169,400±$62kLowest 46% below VT |
| Sheldon and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$948±$45Lowest 23% below VT |
| Sheldon and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957Highest 21% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,310Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.6%±20.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Johnson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
33 min 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.8%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #57 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None 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.