Compare towns
Williamstown vs Windham vs Sheldon vs Proctor
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%).
Windham has the oldest population (median age 56.5).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k 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 | Windham | Sheldon | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,579Highest |
1,432Lowest |
2,267 |
1,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±5 8% above U.S. |
56.5±5.1Highest 45% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.4±6.4 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windham 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. |
$76,477±$17k 5% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$74,167±$12kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| 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. |
$315,600±$74kHighest 5% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$209,900±$17kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Windham 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 17% above U.S. |
$850±$295Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,029±$202 27% 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 | $3,841 23% above U.S. |
$3,363Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$4,032Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.9%±35.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Williamstown 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 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | — | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Highest |
— | — | 8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.