Compare towns
Worcester vs Sheldon vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.5%).
Franklin has the most renters (25.3% rent).
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 | Worcester | Sheldon | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,590 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
| Worcester and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average |
| Franklin and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$247,400±$66kLowest 22% below VT |
| Sheldon and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
| Sheldon and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Highest 12% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Franklin and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| 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.