Compare towns

Wheelock vs Pownal 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%).
Pownal has the most expensive homes ($257k median).
Sheffield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3%).

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.

MeasureWheelockPownalSheffield
People
Population
717
3,265Highest
573Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.4%
VT: +2.8%
-7.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
51±5.6Highest
18% above VT
49±9.1
14% above VT
42±8Lowest
about the VT average
Wheelock and Pownal 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%
16.4%±5.3Lowest
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%±6.3
VT: 21.4%
19.2%±4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Wheelock and Pownal 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%
28.2%
VT: 43.8%
27.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±2.3
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.5Lowest
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±$20kHighest
20% below VT
$64,163±$21k
21% below VT
$58,333±$26kLowest
28% below VT
Wheelock and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$189,600±$37k
40% below VT
$256,600±$32kHighest
19% below VT
$171,900±$50kLowest
46% below VT
Pownal and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$944±$139Lowest
24% below VT
$967±$79Highest
22% below VT
Sheffield and Pownal 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
$3,560Highest
29% below VT
$2,123Lowest
58% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
48.4%±18.5
VT: 48.4%
61.5%±41.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
Sheffield and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.7%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
6.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
92.6%
VT: 73.2%
83.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989Highest
13 yrs newer than VT
1969Lowest
7 yrs older than VT
1987
11 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
17% above VT
21 minLowest
10% below VT
30 minHighest
28% above VT
Work from home
21.1%±16Highest
VT: 16.9%
16.4%±6.7
VT: 16.9%
6.1%±2.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Wheelock and Pownal 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 — #67 of 70 in VT —
School district — Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.