Compare towns
Middlesex vs Sheldon vs Williston vs Westford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Westford has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Middlesex | Sheldon | Williston | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
2,267 |
10,144Highest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
| Williston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Williston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Westford and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
| Westford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$424,500±$21k 34% above VT |
| Williston and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,286±$379Lowest 4% above VT |
$1,832±$130 48% above VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
| Westford and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$6,282 25% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Williston 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| 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 | 6 photos → |
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.