Compare towns
Highgate vs Sheldon vs Spencer vs Williamstown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Spencer has the most expensive homes ($382k median).
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 | Highgate | Sheldon | Spencer | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
2,267Lowest |
12,008Highest |
3,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
42±5 8% above U.S. |
| Spencer and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Spencer and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
$94,418±$10kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Williamstown and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$382,000±$22kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$234,900±$24kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161 24% below U.S. |
$1,659±$189Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Williamstown and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$4,387Highest 41% above U.S. |
$3,841 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Spencer 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 | — | #261 of 282 in MA | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Spencer-E Brookfield | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | David Prouty High | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | 9.9Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.