What stands out worked out from the figures below

Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).

Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Williamstown	Sheffield
People
Population	3,579Highest	573Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	42±5 about the VT average	42±8 about the VT average
Kids under 18	19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9%	17.1%±6.6Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Williamstown and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4%	19.2%±4Highest VT: 21.4%
	Sheffield 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%Lowest VT: 43.8%	27.1%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7%	5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7%
	Sheffield 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 16% above VT	$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT
	Williamstown and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$234,900±$24kHighest 26% below VT	$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT
	Williamstown and Sheffield 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	$967±$79Lowest 22% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,841Highest 24% below VT	$2,123Lowest 58% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4%	61.5%±41.2Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Williamstown and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Highest VT: 10.1%	6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Highest VT: 73.2%	83.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Lowest 10 yrs newer than VT	1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest about the VT average	30 minHighest 28% above VT
Work from home	13.9%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9%	6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Williamstown and Sheffield 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	Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64
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

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.