Compare towns

Sheldon vs Newcomb 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).
Newcomb has the oldest population (median age 59.1).
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.

MeasureSheldonNewcombWilliamstown
People
Population
2,267
490Lowest
3,579Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+3.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.9±3.5Lowest
5% above U.S.
59.1±10.1Highest
52% above U.S.
42±5
8% above U.S.
Kids under 18
23.7%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
9.4%±4.7Lowest
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%
31.4%±6.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17%±3.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
14.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
17.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.3%±5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±3.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$78,533±$25kLowest
about the U.S. average
$108,750±$25kHighest
35% above U.S.
$94,418±$10k
17% above U.S.
Newcomb 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±$61kHighest
18% below U.S.
$254,800±$47k
23% below U.S.
$234,900±$24kLowest
29% below U.S.
Sheldon and Newcomb are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,286±$379Lowest
9% 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.
$1,488Lowest
52% below U.S.
$3,841Highest
23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
83.7%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Williamstown and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1964Lowest
16 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minHighest
5% below U.S.
17 minLowest
36% below U.S.
23 min
12% below U.S.
Work from home
13%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
10.2%±7.8Lowest
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 — Paine Mountain Union School District #68
High school 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

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.