Compare towns
Sheldon vs Castleton vs Nanticoke vs Williamstown
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 expensive homes ($272k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Nanticoke has the most affordable homes ($157k median).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Castleton | Nanticoke | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
4,453Highest |
1,683Lowest |
3,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.5±6.4 7% above U.S. |
42±5Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Williamstown and Nanticoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.6%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Nanticoke and Sheldon 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% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nanticoke and Castleton 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% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$69,432±$13kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$94,418±$10kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Williamstown and Sheldon 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. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$157,100±$32kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$234,900±$24k 29% 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. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$941±$314Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,659±$189Highest 17% above 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. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,171 about the U.S. average |
$3,841Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±37.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Castleton 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% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
77%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6Highest 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | 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 | 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.