Compare towns
Sheldon vs Otsego vs Highgate 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).
Otsego has the most people working from home (19.9%).
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 | Otsego | Highgate | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267Lowest |
3,627Highest |
3,528 |
3,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
52.1±5.8Highest 34% above U.S. |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
42±5 8% above U.S. |
| Otsego and Highgate 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% |
12.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3 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% |
31.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Otsego and Highgate 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
53.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Otsego and Williamstown 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 |
$72,891±$16kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$94,418±$10kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Williamstown and Highgate 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. |
$352,600±$42kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$234,900±$24kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,205±$165 15% below U.S. |
$895±$691Lowest 37% 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. |
$4,702Highest 51% above U.S. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$3,841 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.6%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Otsego 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±9.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Otsego and Highgate 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 | — | #65 of 484 in NY | #43 of 70 in VT | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | COOPERSTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | COOPERSTOWN JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
9.8 |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.