What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wolcott has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).

Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Wolcott	Sheldon
People
Population	1,507Lowest	2,267Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8%	-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	42.4±5.9Highest about the VT average	40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT
	Wolcott and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.8%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9%	23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9%
	Sheldon and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4%	12.6%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4%
	Sheldon and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.1%Highest VT: 43.8%	14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7%	2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%
	Wolcott and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT	$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT
	Sheldon and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$221,300±$23kLowest 30% below VT	$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT
	Sheldon and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,059±$118Lowest 14% below VT	$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT
	Sheldon and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,930Highest 22% below VT	$3,578Lowest 29% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4%	0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4%
Below poverty line	9.3%Highest VT: 10.1%	5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2%	89%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 7 yrs newer than VT	1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 13% above VT	25 minLowest 7% above VT
Work from home	13.9%±4.2Highest VT: 16.9%	13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Wolcott and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Wolcott 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 Our Story	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.