Compare towns
Sheldon vs Rochester vs Williamstown vs Proctor
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 kids (23.7% under 18).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k 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 | Rochester | Williamstown | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
1,389Lowest |
3,579Highest |
1,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
42±5 about the VT average |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
| Rochester 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% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 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% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
17.6% VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Williamstown and Proctor 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 |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
| Williamstown and Sheldon 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 |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
| Sheldon and Rochester 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 |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below 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 |
$3,977 21% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
$4,032Highest 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Rochester 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% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
16.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester 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 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| 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.