Compare towns
Williamstown vs Plainfield vs Sheldon
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%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($155k median).
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 | Plainfield | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,579Highest |
1,016Lowest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±5Highest 8% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
| 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% |
15.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest 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%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williamstown and Plainfield 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% |
28.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Williamstown 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 17% above U.S. |
$70,673±$6kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25k 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. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,900±$24k 29% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| 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 17% above U.S. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% 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 | $3,841Highest 23% above U.S. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | — |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.