Compare towns

Sheldon vs Springfield vs Whitingham 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).
Whitingham has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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.

MeasureSheldonSpringfieldWhitinghamWilliamstown
People
Population
2,267
9,084Highest
1,368Lowest
3,579
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.5%
VT: +2.8%
-3.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-1%
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
46.4±7.1Highest
8% above VT
42±5
about the VT average
Whitingham 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%±3.4Lowest
VT: 17.9%
19.8%±4.5
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%±3.7
VT: 21.4%
31.1%±2.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
17%±3.9
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
14.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
23.3%
VT: 43.8%
32.8%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%
2.2%±1.9
VT: 7%
4.8%±3.2Highest
VT: 7%
Williamstown and Springfield 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
$70,625±$11k
13% 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
$262,300±$30k
17% below VT
$234,900±$24k
26% below VT
Sheldon and Whitingham 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±$100
22% below VT
$673±$150Lowest
45% 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
$4,807
5% below VT
$5,055Highest
about the VT average
$3,841
24% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
49.6%±15.6
VT: 48.4%
62.7%±47.3
VT: 48.4%
83.7%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
Williamstown and Whitingham 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%
VT: 10.1%
15.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.2%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89%
VT: 73.2%
67.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
85.2%
VT: 73.2%
90.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984
8 yrs newer than VT
1958Lowest
18 yrs older than VT
1974
2 yrs older than VT
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
7% above VT
27 min
16% above VT
38 minHighest
62% above VT
23 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
13%±3.7
VT: 16.9%
15.1%±5.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
9.7%±5.2Lowest
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 Twin Valley Unified School District #75 Paine Mountain Union School District #68
High school in town None in town Springfield High School Twin Valley Middle High School Williamstown Middle/High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.3Highest
7.8Lowest
9.5
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.