Compare towns
Wheelock vs Hardwick vs Washington vs Sheffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
Hardwick has the highest household income ($92k).
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
Sheffield has the youngest population (median age 42).
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 | Wheelock | Hardwick | Washington | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 717 |
2,965Highest |
1,056 |
573Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
-0.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51±5.6 18% above VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
42±8Lowest about the VT average |
| Washington and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Wheelock and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
31% VT: 43.8% |
27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Sheffield and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,792±$20k 20% below VT |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$66,103±$8k 19% below VT |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $189,600±$37k 40% below VT |
$184,700±$39k 42% below VT |
$217,700±$37kHighest 31% below VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
| Washington and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$996±$285Highest 19% below VT |
$967±$79 22% below VT |
| Washington and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,937 42% below VT |
$4,351Highest 14% below VT |
$3,485 31% below VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6 VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4% VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1987 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 17% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock and Washington 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 | — | #68 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | — | Hazen Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.