Compare towns
Sheldon vs Fairfield 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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
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 | Fairfield | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267 |
1,938Lowest |
3,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
42.3±2.7Highest about the VT average |
42±5 about the VT average |
| Fairfield and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield 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 VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Williamstown and Fairfield 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% |
30.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
17.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Williamstown and Fairfield 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 |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
| Williamstown and Fairfield 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 |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
| Fairfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
| 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 29% below VT |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Fairfield 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984Lowest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | 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 Our Story | 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.