Compare towns
Sheldon vs Wayne vs Williamstown vs Proctor
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).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k 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 | Wayne | Williamstown | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
1,033Lowest |
3,579Highest |
1,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
62.6±3.6Highest 61% above U.S. |
42±5 8% above U.S. |
42.4±6.4 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Proctor 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% |
40.1%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$90,938±$17k 13% above U.S. |
$94,418±$10kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$74,167±$12kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Williamstown and Wayne 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. |
$266,700±$150k 20% below U.S. |
$234,900±$24k 29% below U.S. |
$209,900±$17kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,031±$304 27% below U.S. |
$1,659±$189Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,029±$202Lowest 27% below 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 | $3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,967 27% above U.S. |
$3,841 23% above U.S. |
$4,032Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.6 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 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Williamstown Middle/High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| 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.