Compare towns

Sheldon vs Summit 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).
Summit has the most affordable homes ($150k median).
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.

MeasureSheldonSummitWilliamstown
People
Population
2,267
976Lowest
3,579Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.9±3.5Lowest
5% above U.S.
55.7±7.3Highest
43% above U.S.
42±5
8% above U.S.
Kids under 18
23.7%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.9%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
37.7%±8.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17%±3.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
14.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
17.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
0%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Williamstown and Sheldon 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
$74,375±$26kLowest
8% below U.S.
$94,418±$10kHighest
17% above U.S.
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
18% below U.S.
$150,000±$29kLowest
55% below U.S.
$234,900±$24k
29% below U.S.
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±$379Lowest
9% 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
$3,578
15% above U.S.
$2,230Lowest
29% below U.S.
$3,841Highest
23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
83.7%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Williamstown and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1981Lowest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
5% below U.S.
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
23 minLowest
12% below U.S.
Work from home
13%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
5.3%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.9%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Williamstown and Sheldon 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 — Paine Mountain Union School District #68
High school in town None in town — Williamstown Middle/High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
9.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.