Compare towns
Sheldon vs Springfield vs Proctor 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 kids (23.7% under 18).
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Proctor has the oldest population (median age 47.3).
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 | Springfield | Proctor | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
9,084Highest |
1,586Lowest |
3,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
47.3±8.9Highest 10% above VT |
42±5 about the VT average |
| Proctor and Springfield 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% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.5%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Springfield 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% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
28%Highest VT: 43.8% |
17.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
3.9%±1.9 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Highest 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 |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$75,060±$12k 8% below VT |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above 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 |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$206,000±$20k 35% below VT |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
| Sheldon and Williamstown 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 |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,059±$200 14% 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 |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
39.4%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Springfield 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% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
22 minLowest 5% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Springfield 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | — | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| 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.