Compare towns

Salisbury 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

Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Williamstown has the most affordable homes ($235k median).

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.

MeasureSalisburySheldonWilliamstown
People
Population
1,200Lowest
2,267
3,579Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-2.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+3.7%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
50.6±6.5Highest
17% above VT
40.9±3.5Lowest
5% below VT
42±5
about the VT average
Salisbury and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.6%±3.2Lowest
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+
30.4%±2.9Highest
VT: 21.4%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
17%±3.9
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.6%Highest
VT: 43.8%
14.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
17.6%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.6%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
2%±1.3
VT: 7%
4.8%±3.2Highest
VT: 7%
Williamstown and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$99,688±$21kHighest
23% above VT
$78,533±$25kLowest
3% below VT
$94,418±$10k
16% above VT
Salisbury and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$306,900±$51kHighest
3% below VT
$272,400±$61k
14% below VT
$234,900±$24kLowest
26% below VT
Salisbury and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,443±$984
17% above VT
$1,286±$379Lowest
4% above VT
$1,659±$189Highest
34% above VT
Williamstown and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,842Highest
4% below VT
$3,578Lowest
29% below VT
$3,841
24% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.9%±22.6
VT: 48.4%
0%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
83.7%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
Williamstown and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
5.1%
VT: 10.1%
8.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
89%
VT: 73.2%
90.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967Lowest
9 yrs older than VT
1984
8 yrs newer than VT
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
20% below VT
25 minHighest
7% above VT
23 min
about the VT average
Work from home
6%±2.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
13%±3.7
VT: 16.9%
13.9%±6.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
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 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 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.