Compare towns
Putney 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
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Putney | Sheldon | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622 |
2,267Lowest |
3,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
42±5Highest about the VT average |
| Williamstown and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest 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+ | 18.1%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Putney and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
17.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
| Williamstown and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
| Putney and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
| Williamstown and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Putney and Williamstown 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | — | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 |
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.