Compare towns
Sheldon vs Townsend vs Uxbridge 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).
Uxbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Williamstown has the most affordable homes ($235k median).
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 | Townsend | Uxbridge | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267Lowest |
9,100 |
14,473Highest |
3,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.7±2.8 7% above U.S. |
42±5Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Williamstown and Uxbridge 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% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
38%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$124,725±$7kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$94,418±$10k 17% above U.S. |
| Uxbridge and Townsend 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. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$441,100±$25kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$234,900±$24kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Uxbridge and Townsend 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. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,555±$265 10% above U.S. |
$1,659±$189Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Williamstown and Uxbridge 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. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$5,836 87% above U.S. |
$3,841 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.6%±5.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
37 min 39% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Uxbridge 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | #183 of 282 in MA | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | North Middlesex | Uxbridge | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Uxbridge High | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
11.6 |
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.