Compare towns
Williamstown vs Northfield vs Highgate 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Northfield | Highgate | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,579 |
5,920Highest |
3,528 |
2,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±5 about the VT average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Highgate 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% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 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%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate 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% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Williamstown and Highgate 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 |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Highgate and Northfield 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 |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% 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 |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate 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 | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | Northfield Middle/High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
10.0Highest |
9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.