Compare towns
Fairfield vs Sheldon vs Williamstown vs Proctor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Williamstown has the highest household income ($94k).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k 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 | Fairfield | Sheldon | Williamstown | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
2,267 |
3,579Highest |
1,794Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
42±5 about the VT average |
42.4±6.4Highest about the VT average |
| Proctor and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
17.6% VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Williamstown and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$74,167±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
| Williamstown and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
| Fairfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$1,029±$202Lowest 17% below VT |
| Williamstown and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816Highest 4% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Williamstown and Sheldon 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 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| 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.