Compare towns
Sheldon vs Williston vs Bakersfield vs Williamstown
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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Bakersfield has the most homeowners (94%).
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 | Williston | Bakersfield | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
10,144Highest |
1,109Lowest |
3,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
46.4±8Highest 8% above VT |
42±5 about the VT average |
| Bakersfield and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Bakersfield and Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
17.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$83,462±$18k about the VT average |
$94,418±$10k 16% above VT |
| Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$271,300±$19k 14% below VT |
$234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,200±$327Lowest about the VT average |
$1,659±$189 34% above VT |
| Williston and Williamstown 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 |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,823 24% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Bakersfield 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.