Compare towns
Sheldon vs Dummerston 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).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
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 | Dummerston | Calais | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
2,090 |
1,713Lowest |
3,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
42±5 about the VT average |
| Dummerston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 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% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Calais 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% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
17.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$94,418±$10k 16% above VT |
| Dummerston and Calais 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 |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
| Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Lowest 4% above VT |
$1,392±$126 13% 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 |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 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% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Calais 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.