Compare towns
Sheldon vs Minerva vs Proctor 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).
Minerva has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Minerva | Proctor | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
836Lowest |
1,794 |
3,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
56.2±5.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
42.4±6.4 9% above U.S. |
42±5 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Proctor 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% |
35.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williamstown and Minerva 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 |
$67,303±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$74,167±$12k 8% 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. |
$171,800±$22kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$209,900±$17k 37% 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. |
$784±$102Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,029±$202 27% 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. |
$2,608Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$4,032Highest 29% above U.S. |
$3,841 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±74.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Proctor 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% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
88% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest 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 | — | — | — | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7Lowest |
9.5Highest |
| 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.