Compare towns
Wells vs Sheldon vs Dummerston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
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 | Wells | Sheldon | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148Lowest |
2,267Highest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
| Wells and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Wells and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
| Dummerston and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
| Dummerston and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$282 6% above VT |
$1,286±$379Lowest 4% above VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
| Dummerston and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$4,536Highest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 102% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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.