Compare towns
Williamstown vs Castleton vs Putney 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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
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 | Putney | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,579 |
4,453Highest |
2,622 |
2,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±5Highest about the VT average |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% 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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest 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% |
20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton and Putney 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% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Castleton 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 |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Williamstown and Putney 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 |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Putney 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 |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% 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 |
$5,313Highest 5% 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% |
54.2%±19.4 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
19 min 17% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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.