Compare towns
Williamstown vs Jay vs Sheldon vs Northfield
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).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Northfield has the most renters (26.5% rent).
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 | Jay | Sheldon | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,579 |
471Lowest |
2,267 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±5 about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 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% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Northfield and Williamstown 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% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% 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 |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
| 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 34% above VT |
— | $1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% 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 |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | — | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | 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 | 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 |
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.