Compare towns
White River Junction vs Vernon vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Vernon has the highest household income ($86k).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | White River Junction | Vernon | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364Highest |
2,709 |
2,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
42.6±5.4Highest about the VT average |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Vernon and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Vernon and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4kLowest 5% below VT |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Vernon and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
| Vernon and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216 about the VT average |
$1,023±$214Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$5,191 3% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| White River Junction and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
76.2% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 35% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| White River Junction and Sheldon 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 | — | #30 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Vernon 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 | 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.