Compare towns
Cornwall vs Highgate 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
Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
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.
| Measure | Cornwall | Highgate | Sheldon | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208Lowest |
3,528 |
2,267 |
3,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.4±4.6Highest 17% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
42±5 about the VT average |
| Cornwall and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.7%±6.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Cornwall and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
17.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Williamstown and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$94,418±$10k 16% above VT |
| Cornwall and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
| Williamstown and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Highgate 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.