What stands out worked out from the figures below

West Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 50.3).

Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).

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	West Fairlee	Sheldon
People
Population	711Lowest	2,267Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%	-2.5%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	50.3±7.6Highest 17% above VT	40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT
	West Fairlee and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9%	23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4%	12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.6%Highest VT: 43.8%	14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±2.3Highest VT: 7%	2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%
	West Fairlee and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$76,500±$16kLowest 6% below VT	$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT
	Sheldon and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$237,200±$35kLowest 25% below VT	$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT
	Sheldon and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,113±$171Lowest 10% below VT	$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT
	Sheldon and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,210Highest 3% above VT	$3,578Lowest 29% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50%±89.6Highest VT: 48.4%	0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4%
	West Fairlee and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.3%Highest VT: 10.1%	5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.9%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	28 minHighest 20% above VT	25 minLowest 7% above VT
Work from home	5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9%	13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9%
	Sheldon and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Rivendell Interstate School District	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.