Compare towns
Wheelock vs Topsham 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%).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Topsham | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 717 |
999Highest |
573Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
50.1±5.9 16% above VT |
42±8Lowest about the VT average |
| Wheelock and Topsham 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% |
18%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Wheelock and Topsham 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% |
23.2%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock and Topsham 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% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$72,308±$60kHighest 11% below VT |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
| Topsham and Wheelock 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 |
$222,900±$56kHighest 30% below VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
| Topsham and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $908±$398Lowest 26% below VT |
$967±$79Highest 22% below VT |
| Sheffield and Topsham 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 |
$4,006Highest 21% below VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Sheffield 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% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
83.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1987 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 17% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Waits River Union High District #36 | 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.