Compare towns
Williamstown vs Colrain vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Colrain has the oldest population (median age 49.6).
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 | Colrain | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,579Highest |
1,627Lowest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±5 8% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Colrain 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williamstown and Colrain 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 17% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Williamstown and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,900±$24kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
| Colrain 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 17% above U.S. |
$1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
| 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 23% above U.S. |
$4,317Highest 38% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | — |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Mohawk Trail | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | 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 |
U.S. 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.