Compare towns
Sheldon vs Barre vs Williamstown vs Highgate
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).
Barre has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
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 | Barre | Williamstown | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267Lowest |
5,572Highest |
3,579 |
3,528 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
42±5 8% above U.S. |
44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Highgate and Barre 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% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest 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% |
19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Highgate and Barre 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% |
31.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$94,418±$10k 17% above U.S. |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
| Barre and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$234,900±$24kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713 27% below U.S. |
$1,659±$189Highest 17% above U.S. |
$895±$691Lowest 37% 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 | $3,578 15% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$3,841 23% above U.S. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Barre 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% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Highgate and Williamstown 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 | — | #134 of 282 in MA | #47 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Quabbin | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Williamstown Middle/High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
9.5Lowest |
9.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.