Compare towns
Williamstown vs Sheffield vs Sheldon vs Troy
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 highest household income ($94k).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
Troy has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
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 | Sheffield | Sheldon | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,579Highest |
573Lowest |
2,267 |
1,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±5 about the VT average |
42±8 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
44.5±5.7Highest 3% above VT |
| Troy 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% |
17.1%±6.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Troy 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% |
19.2%±4Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Sheffield and Troy 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% |
27.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 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 |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$87,938±$11k 8% above VT |
| Williamstown and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$233,200±$21k 26% below VT |
| 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 34% above VT |
$967±$79 22% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
| Williamstown and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,841Highest 24% below VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,644 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3 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% VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Troy School District |
| High school in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.