Compare towns

Sheffield vs Williston vs Windham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Windham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1982).

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.

MeasureSheffieldWillistonWindham
People
Population
573Lowest
10,144Highest
594
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+16.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
42±8Lowest
about the VT average
45.4±4.5Highest
5% above VT
44.2±7.4
about the VT average
Williston and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.1%±6.6Lowest
VT: 17.9%
20.5%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
17.5%±7.9
VT: 17.9%
Williston and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.2%±4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
21%±3.5
VT: 21.4%
23.2%±8.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
Windham and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
27.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
54.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
5.7%±2.7
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Sheffield and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$58,333±$26kLowest
28% below VT
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above VT
$94,500±$12k
16% above VT
Williston and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$171,900±$50kLowest
46% below VT
$475,800±$40kHighest
50% above VT
$353,900±$20k
12% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$967±$79Lowest
22% below VT
$1,832±$130Highest
48% above VT
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,123Lowest
58% below VT
$5,592
11% above VT
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.5%±41.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±17.4
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Sheffield and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.6%
VT: 10.1%
4.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
9.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
75.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987
11 yrs newer than VT
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
1982Lowest
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
28% above VT
20 minLowest
16% below VT
27 min
14% above VT
Work from home
6.1%±2.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.3%±7.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
Williston and Windham 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 — #11 of 70 in VT —
School district Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 —
High school in town None in town None in town —
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.