Compare towns
Highgate vs Weston 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
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Weston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Williamstown has the most affordable homes ($235k 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 | Highgate | Weston | Sheldon | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
685Lowest |
2,267 |
3,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+10.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
60.5±7Highest 40% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
42±5 about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.2%±4.2Lowest 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+ | 22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
44.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5% VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
17.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Williamstown and Highgate 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 VT average |
$115,000±$20kHighest 42% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$94,418±$10k 16% above VT |
| Weston and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$537,700±$77kHighest 70% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,375±$729 11% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
| Williamstown and Weston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$7,076Highest 40% above VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Weston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
31.2%±7.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school 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.