Compare towns
Williamstown vs Middlebury vs Sheldon
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 most affordable homes ($235k median).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Middlebury | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,579 |
9,175Highest |
2,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+7.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±5Highest about the VT average |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% 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% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest 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% |
20.7%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Middlebury 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% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$86,169±$16k 6% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
| Williamstown and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$1,156±$113Lowest 6% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above 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 |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Middlebury 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% |
10.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlebury 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 | #17 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | Middlebury Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.