Compare towns
Danby vs Sheldon vs Williston vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($218k 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.
| Measure | Danby | Sheldon | Williston | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133 |
2,267 |
10,144Highest |
1,056Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 22% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
| Washington and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$66,103±$8kLowest 19% below VT |
| Williston and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$996±$285 19% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 10% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Washington 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.