Compare towns
Williamstown vs Sheldon vs Mendon vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($218k 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.
| Measure | Williamstown | Sheldon | Mendon | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,579Highest |
2,267 |
1,113 |
1,056Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±5 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
52.9±5.1 23% above VT |
| Mendon and Washington 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±4.2 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and Washington 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
| Williamstown and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,418±$10k 16% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$66,103±$8kLowest 19% below VT |
| Mendon and Williamstown 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
| Mendon and Sheldon 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 |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$996±$285Lowest 19% 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 | $3,841 24% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Williamstown 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% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Washington 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 | — | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | 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.