Compare towns
Sheldon vs Proctor vs Benson vs Williamstown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Proctor | Benson | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
1,794 |
784Lowest |
3,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
42±5 about the VT average |
| Benson and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Proctor 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 VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
17.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Benson 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 3% below VT |
$74,167±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
| Williamstown and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
| Sheldon and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,029±$202Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
| Williamstown and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson 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 | — | — | — | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
— | 9.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.