Compare towns
Williamstown vs Bennington 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%).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Bennington | Sheldon | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,579 |
15,249Highest |
2,267Lowest |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±5 about the VT average |
44.7±2.3Highest 4% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Bennington 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% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest 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% |
25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington 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% |
36.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% 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 |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% 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 |
$1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 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 |
$4,513 10% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Bennington 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% |
13.2%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% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Bennington 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 | #58 of 70 in VT | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
14.7Highest |
— | 10.0 |
| 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.