Compare towns
Williamstown vs Hampton vs Sheldon vs Northfield
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%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Hampton | Sheldon | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,579 |
1,145Lowest |
2,267 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±5 8% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Hampton 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% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest 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% |
20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,418±$10kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| 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 29% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Northfield 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. |
$1,264±$375 11% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% 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. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 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 | — | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | — | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | — | 10.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.