Compare towns
Sheldon vs Plainfield 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).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($155k median).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
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 | Plainfield | Highgate | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
1,016Lowest |
3,528 |
3,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
42±5 8% above U.S. |
| Highgate and Williamstown 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% |
15.6%±2.8Lowest 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% |
14.5%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Highgate 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% |
28.2%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% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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 |
$70,673±$6kLowest 12% 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. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$234,900±$24k 29% below U.S. |
| Highgate 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. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$895±$691 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. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$3,558 14% above U.S. |
$3,841Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 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% |
7.8% 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% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%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. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Highgate 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 | — | — | #43 of 70 in VT | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8Highest |
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.