Compare towns
Putnam vs Sheldon 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
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Putnam | Sheldon | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 540Lowest |
2,267 |
3,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42±5 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest 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+ | 35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williamstown and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$94,418±$10kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Williamstown and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$234,900±$24kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,286±$379Lowest 9% 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 | $3,674 18% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,841Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williamstown and Sheldon 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 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | 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 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.