Compare towns
Williamstown vs Castleton vs Middlesex 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%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Castleton | Middlesex | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,579 |
4,453Highest |
1,943Lowest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±5 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Middlesex 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% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Middlesex 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% |
20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton and Middlesex 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% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,418±$10k 16% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Middlesex and Williamstown 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
| Williamstown and Middlesex 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Castleton 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 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.