Compare towns
Williamstown vs Halifax vs Sheldon vs Fair Haven
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).
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k 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 | Halifax | Sheldon | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,579Highest |
847Lowest |
2,267 |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±5Highest about the VT average |
40.6±13.1 6% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% 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% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Sheldon 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% |
22.6%±7.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Halifax and Fair Haven 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% |
44.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
23.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Williamstown and Fair Haven 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 |
$63,889±$7k 21% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% 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 |
$267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Sheldon and Halifax 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 |
$875±$154 29% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below 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 |
$4,991Highest about the VT average |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Halifax 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% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax 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 | — | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Halifax School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | — | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.