Compare towns
Wilmington vs Sheldon vs Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilmington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.2%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Fairlee has the most people working from home (15%).
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 | Wilmington | Sheldon | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,747 |
2,267Highest |
1,066Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 59.1±4.8Highest 37% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
| Wilmington and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9.6%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 32.6%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2.2Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
| 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 | $70,000±$23kLowest 14% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
| Sheldon and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,700±$16kHighest 9% below VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
| Wilmington and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,106±$95 10% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
| Sheldon and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,299 5% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±23 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 9% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairlee and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| 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.