Compare towns
Sandgate vs Sheldon vs Williamstown vs Arlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandgate has the oldest population (median age 55.7).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Arlington has the most expensive homes ($319k 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.
| Measure | Sandgate | Sheldon | Williamstown | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
2,267 |
3,579Highest |
2,598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
42±5 about the VT average |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±11.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Sandgate and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.8% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
17.6% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Williamstown and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$94,418±$10k 16% above VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
| Arlington and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
$318,500±$59kHighest about the VT average |
| Arlington and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$1,191±$172Lowest 3% below VT |
| Williamstown and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
$4,549Highest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
84%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Sandgate 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 | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Arlington School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | Arlington Memorial |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5Lowest |
10.6Highest |
| 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.