Compare towns

Sheldon vs Hancock vs Cornwall 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).
Hancock has the most renters (40.5% rent).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).
Williamstown has the shortest commute (23 min average).

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.

MeasureSheldonHancockCornwallWilliamstown
People
Population
2,267
435Lowest
1,208
3,579Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
+3.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
40.9±3.5
5% below VT
33.8±11.6Lowest
22% below VT
50.4±4.6Highest
17% above VT
42±5
about the VT average
Cornwall and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.7%±3.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
17.2%±5.8Lowest
VT: 17.9%
18.7%±3
VT: 17.9%
19.9%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
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
VT: 21.4%
19.8%±3.6
VT: 21.4%
25.7%±6.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
17%±3.9
VT: 21.4%
Cornwall and Hancock 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%
34.3%
VT: 43.8%
54.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
17.6%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
3.7%±3.6
VT: 7%
3.7%±3.1
VT: 7%
4.8%±3.2Highest
VT: 7%
Williamstown and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$78,533±$25k
3% below VT
$76,250±$34kLowest
6% below VT
$114,583±$32kHighest
41% above VT
$94,418±$10k
16% above VT
Cornwall 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
$187,900±$11kLowest
41% below VT
$458,000±$49kHighest
45% above VT
$234,900±$24k
26% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,286±$379
4% above VT
$939±$19Lowest
24% below VT
$1,125±$206
9% 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
$3,578
29% below VT
$3,511Lowest
30% below VT
$6,726Highest
33% above VT
$3,841
24% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
3.5%±16.9
VT: 48.4%
61.9%±65.5
VT: 48.4%
83.7%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
Williamstown and Cornwall 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%
5.6%
VT: 10.1%
0.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89%
VT: 73.2%
59.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
94.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
90.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984
8 yrs newer than VT
1972Lowest
4 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
28 minHighest
17% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
23 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
13%±3.7
VT: 16.9%
11.7%±5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
24.4%±6.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
13.9%±6.6
VT: 16.9%
Cornwall 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 — Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 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

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.