Compare towns
Wolcott vs Sheldon vs Ryegate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
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).
Ryegate has the oldest housing (typical home built 1949).
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 | Wolcott | Sheldon | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,507 |
2,267Highest |
1,059Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±5.9Highest about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
41.2±2.6 4% below VT |
| Wolcott and Ryegate 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% |
23.2%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Ryegate 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%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
29.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Wolcott and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,259±$10k 13% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% 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±$23k 30% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$219,300±$32kLowest 31% 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±$118 14% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$908±$236Lowest 26% below 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 |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±4.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±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 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.