Compare towns
Sheldon vs Arkwright vs Williamstown vs Fair Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Arkwright has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Fair Haven has the most renters (19.4% rent).
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 | Sheldon | Arkwright | Williamstown | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
859Lowest |
3,579Highest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
50.8±7.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
42±5 8% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Arkwright and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Arkwright and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williamstown and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$93,000±$26k 15% above U.S. |
$94,418±$10kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Williamstown and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$170,900±$30kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$234,900±$24k 29% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14k 47% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$875±$689 38% below U.S. |
$1,659±$189Highest 17% above U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Williamstown and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,760 21% above U.S. |
$3,841 23% above U.S. |
$3,865Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±65.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Williamstown Middle/High School | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.