Compare towns
Sheldon vs Williamstown vs Windham vs Highgate
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).
Williamstown has the most affordable homes ($235k median).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
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 | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
3,579Highest |
594Lowest |
3,528 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
42±5 about the VT average |
44.2±7.4Highest about the VT average |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Windham and Highgate 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% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest 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% |
17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Highgate 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 VT: 43.8% |
17.6% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Williamstown and Highgate 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 3% below VT |
$94,418±$10k 16% above VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
| Windham and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
— | $895±$691Lowest 27% 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 | $3,578 29% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
| 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Highgate 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
— | 9.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.