Compare towns
Williamstown vs Jerusalem vs Sheldon vs Fair Haven
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%).
Jerusalem has the most people working from home (16.9%).
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 | Jerusalem | Sheldon | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,579 |
4,278Highest |
2,267Lowest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±5Highest 8% above U.S. |
34±4.4Lowest 13% below U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 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% |
21.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jerusalem 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
21.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,418±$10kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$86,780±$11k 7% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Williamstown and Jerusalem 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. |
$320,900±$59kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Jerusalem 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. |
$870±$116 38% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% 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. |
$4,523Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±43.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Jerusalem 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% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jerusalem 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 | — | 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 | 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 → |
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.