Compare towns
Windsor vs Wilder vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | Windsor | Wilder | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,554Highest |
3,087 |
2,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.2% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.5 4% above VT |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Wilder and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.7% VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
| Sheldon and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
$273,200±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Wilder and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,026±$89Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,209 3% above VT |
$5,505Highest 9% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.5%±17 VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wilder and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
62.9% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 3% below VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Wilder 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 | #61 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 6 photos → | 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.