Compare towns
Williamstown vs Hardwick 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Hardwick | Sheldon | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,579Highest |
2,965 |
2,267Lowest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±5 about the VT average |
47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
| Hardwick 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% |
15.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 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% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick 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% |
33.7%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% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Williamstown and Hardwick 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 |
$184,700±$39k 42% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% 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 |
$875±$406 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 |
$4,351Highest 14% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Fair Haven 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% |
9.7% 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% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1962 14 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 |
29 min 23% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest 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 | #68 of 70 in VT | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | Hazen Union High School | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
8.6Lowest |
— | 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.