Compare towns

Brookline vs Sheldon vs Williamstown

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has the most people working from home (20.6%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).

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.

MeasureBrooklineSheldonWilliamstown
People
Population
531Lowest
2,267
3,579Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
-2.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+3.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.1±2.7Highest
5% above VT
40.9±3.5Lowest
5% below VT
42±5
about the VT average
Brookline and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20%±6
VT: 17.9%
23.7%±3.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
19.9%±5.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Sheldon and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.6%±4.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
17%±3.9
VT: 21.4%
Brookline and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
14.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
17.6%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.6
VT: 7%
2%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
4.8%±3.2Highest
VT: 7%
Williamstown and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$80,833±$16k
about the VT average
$78,533±$25kLowest
3% below VT
$94,418±$10kHighest
16% above VT
Williamstown and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$290,700±$37kHighest
8% below VT
$272,400±$61k
14% below VT
$234,900±$24kLowest
26% below VT
Brookline and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,732±$232Highest
40% above VT
$1,286±$379Lowest
4% above VT
$1,659±$189
34% above VT
Brookline and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,000Highest
about the VT average
$3,578Lowest
29% below VT
$3,841
24% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.8%±94.7
VT: 48.4%
0%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
83.7%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
Williamstown and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.2%
VT: 10.1%
5.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
89%
VT: 73.2%
90.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
1 yr older than VT
1984
8 yrs newer than VT
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
21% above VT
25 min
7% above VT
23 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
20.6%±5.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
13%±3.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
13.9%±6.6
VT: 16.9%
Brookline and Williamstown 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 — — #47 of 70 in VT
School district — Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 Paine Mountain Union School District #68
High school in town — None in town Williamstown Middle/High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
9.5
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.