Compare towns
Sheldon vs Springfield vs Williamstown vs Windham
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).
Williamstown has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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 | Williamstown | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
9,084Highest |
3,579 |
594Lowest |
| 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 |
42±5 about the VT average |
44.2±7.4Highest about the VT average |
| Windham 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% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest 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% |
17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Springfield and Windham 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% |
17.6% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$94,418±$10k 16% above VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
| Windham and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$963±$100Lowest 22% 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 |
$3,841 24% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Springfield 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.