Compare towns
Highgate vs Williamstown vs Williston vs Sheldon
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1980).
Williamstown has the most affordable homes ($235k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Williamstown | Williston | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
3,579 |
10,144Highest |
2,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
42±5 about the VT average |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Williston 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 VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest 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+ | 22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5% VT: 43.8% |
17.6% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston 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 VT average |
$94,418±$10k 16% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
| Williston 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 |
$234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,659±$189 34% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
| Williston and Williamstown 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 |
$3,841 24% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Williston 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% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| 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.