Compare towns
Sheldon vs Whitingham vs Williamstown vs Fair Haven
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).
Whitingham has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k 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 | Whitingham | Williamstown | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
1,368Lowest |
3,579Highest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
46.4±7.1Highest 8% above VT |
42±5 about the VT average |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
| Whitingham and Williamstown 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% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1Lowest 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% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
17.6% VT: 43.8% |
23.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Williamstown and Fair Haven 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 |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below 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 |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% 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 |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$830±$116 33% below 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 |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
$3,841 24% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 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% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | Williamstown Middle/High School | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.8Lowest |
9.5 |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.