Compare towns
Sheldon vs Jay vs Colrain 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 kids (23.7% under 18).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Colrain has the most expensive homes ($284k median).
Williamstown has the highest household income ($94k).
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 | Jay | Colrain | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
471Lowest |
1,627 |
3,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
42±5 8% above U.S. |
| Jay and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williamstown and Colrain 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 about the U.S. average |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$94,418±$10kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Williamstown and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$234,900±$24k 29% below U.S. |
| Colrain 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 9% below U.S. |
— | $1,102±$77Lowest 22% 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 | $3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$4,317Highest 38% above U.S. |
$3,841 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Colrain 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Mohawk Trail | 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 |
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.