Compare towns
Williamstown vs Barton vs Sheldon vs Northfield
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%).
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Barton | Sheldon | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,579 |
730Lowest |
2,267 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±5Highest about the VT average |
40±5.5 7% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Williamstown and Sheldon 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% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Sheldon 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% |
21.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Barton and Northfield 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% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% 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 |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
| Northfield and Sheldon 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 |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,018±$207 18% 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 | $3,841 24% below VT |
$3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Northfield 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% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Barton 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 | #38 of 70 in VT | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | — | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | — | 10.0Highest |
| 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.