Compare towns
Putney vs Williston vs Sheldon vs Westmoreland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Westmoreland has the oldest population (median age 55.3).
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 | Williston | Sheldon | Westmoreland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
10,144Highest |
2,267 |
2,237Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
55.3±2.2Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$104,444±$28k 29% above U.S. |
| Williston and Westmoreland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$351,800±$12k 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,354±$280 4% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 70% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$6,643Highest 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.5%±23.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Putney 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Westmoreland School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.