Compare towns
Sheldon vs Williamstown vs Windham vs Fair Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamstown has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Williamstown | Windham | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267Lowest |
3,579 |
16,038Highest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
42±5Highest 8% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Williamstown and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Sheldon 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%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fair Haven and Williamstown 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$94,418±$10k 17% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$234,900±$24k 29% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,659±$189 17% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,841 23% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Windham 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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | — | #47 of 70 in VT | #13 of 120 in NH | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Windham School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | Windham High School | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.