Compare towns
Sheldon vs Calais vs Williamstown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
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.
| Measure | Sheldon | Calais | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267 |
1,713Lowest |
3,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
42±8.6Highest about the VT average |
42±5Highest about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Calais and Williamstown 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 VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
17.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Calais 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 3% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$94,418±$10k 16% above VT |
| Calais 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 14% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Lowest 4% above VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
| Williamstown and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais 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 | — | — | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.