Compare towns
Williamstown vs Vershire vs Sheldon vs Berlin
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%).
Vershire has the most affordable homes ($209k median).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
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 | Vershire | Sheldon | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,579Highest |
842Lowest |
2,267 |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±5 about the VT average |
45.7±9.3 6% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
| Berlin and Vershire 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% |
19.1%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest 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% |
22.2%±5 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Vershire 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% |
31.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Vershire 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 |
$71,618±$12kLowest 12% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
| Williamstown and Berlin 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 |
$209,100±$55kLowest 34% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$273,600±$31kHighest 14% below VT |
| Berlin 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 |
$1,117±$80Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,169±$171 5% 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 |
$4,640Highest 8% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
77.8%±24.5 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Vershire 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% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1985 9 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest 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 | — | — | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.