Compare towns
Williamstown vs Castleton vs Proctor 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).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k 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 | Castleton | Proctor | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,579 |
4,453Highest |
1,794Lowest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±5 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.4±6.4Highest about the VT average |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Proctor 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% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Proctor 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%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Castleton 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% 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% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% 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 |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 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 |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,029±$202Lowest 17% 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,032Highest 20% below 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% |
37.3%±16.2 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% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older 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 |
22 min 6% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.