Compare towns
Sheldon vs Moriah vs Fairfield 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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Moriah has the most affordable homes ($138k median).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
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 | Moriah | Fairfield | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
4,483Highest |
1,938Lowest |
3,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
56.7±3Highest 46% above U.S. |
42.3±2.7 9% above U.S. |
42±5 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$25k about the U.S. average |
$63,113±$6kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$87,019±$22k 8% above U.S. |
$94,418±$10kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| 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 18% below U.S. |
$138,200±$9kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$320,600±$22kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$234,900±$24k 29% below U.S. |
| 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 9% below U.S. |
$832±$165Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,056±$441 25% 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. |
$2,644Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$4,816Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,841 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±25.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Moriah 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% |
14.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±3Lowest 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 | — | #380 of 484 in NY | — | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | MORIAH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | MORIAH JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6Lowest |
— | 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.