Compare towns
Sheldon vs Spencer vs Enosburgh 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).
Spencer has the most expensive homes ($382k median).
Enosburgh has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
Williamstown has the highest household income ($94k).
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 | Spencer | Enosburgh | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267Lowest |
12,008Highest |
2,804 |
3,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
40.6±3.9Lowest 4% above U.S. |
42±5 8% above U.S. |
| Spencer 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% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Enosburgh 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% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Enosburgh and Spencer 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 |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$94,418±$10kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Williamstown and Spencer 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. |
$382,000±$22kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$223,100±$39kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$234,900±$24k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161 24% below U.S. |
$852±$87Lowest 40% 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 | $3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,387Highest 41% above U.S. |
$3,624 16% above U.S. |
$3,841 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±11.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Spencer 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% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Spencer 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 | — | #261 of 282 in MA | #26 of 70 in VT | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Spencer-E Brookfield | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | David Prouty High | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
10.4Highest |
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.