Compare towns
Orange vs Sheldon vs Williamstown vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the oldest population (median age 50.3).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Groton has the most homeowners (94.4%).
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 | Orange | Sheldon | Williamstown | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957Lowest |
2,267 |
3,579Highest |
967 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
42±5 about the VT average |
45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
| Orange and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest 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+ | 19.4%±4 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Groton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
17.6% VT: 43.8% |
38.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Groton and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,302±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
| Williamstown and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
$243,000±$70k 23% below VT |
| Sheldon and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153 8% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
| Williamstown and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,841Highest 24% below VT |
$3,659 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
30 minHighest 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williamstown and Orange 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
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| 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.