Compare towns
Williamstown vs Benson vs Troy 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 the highest household income ($94k).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Troy has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k 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 | Williamstown | Benson | Troy | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,579Highest |
784Lowest |
1,749 |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±5 about the VT average |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Benson and Troy 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% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Troy 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% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.6% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Williamstown 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 |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$87,938±$11k 8% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
| Williamstown and Troy 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 |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$233,200±$21kLowest 26% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
| Sheldon and Benson 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 |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% 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 |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$3,644 28% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Benson 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% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Troy School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.