Compare towns
Williamstown vs Barre vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Williamstown | Barre | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,579 |
8,412Highest |
2,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±5 about the VT average |
42.2±6.6Highest about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Barre and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest 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+ | 17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Barre and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.6% VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williamstown and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% 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 | $234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
| Sheldon and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$1,093±$58Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
| Williamstown and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,841 24% below VT |
$5,192Highest 3% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 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 | #19 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | Spaulding Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
10.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.