Compare towns
Sheldon vs Plainfield 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).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
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.
| Measure | Sheldon | Plainfield | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267Lowest |
2,522 |
3,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
42±5Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Williamstown and Sheldon 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% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Williamstown 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% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$94,418±$10k 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$234,900±$24kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,659±$189 17% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Williamstown 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. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$3,841 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Plainfield 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Plainfield School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school 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 |
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.