Compare towns
West Fairlee vs Sheldon vs Wardsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.5%).
Wardsboro has the most expensive homes ($299k 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 | West Fairlee | Sheldon | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 711Lowest |
2,267Highest |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and West Fairlee 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% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest 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±$16k 6% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% 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±$61k 14% below VT |
$299,300±$47kHighest 5% below VT |
| Wardsboro and Sheldon 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±$379 4% above VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% 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 | $5,210Highest 3% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,345 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 20% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Highest 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| 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.