Compare towns
Williston vs Williamstown vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Williamstown has the most affordable homes ($235k median).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Williston | Williamstown | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
3,579 |
2,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
42±5 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Williston and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Williston and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
17.6% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$94,418±$10k 16% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
| Williston and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,659±$189 34% above VT |
$1,286±$379Lowest 4% above VT |
| Williston and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1984Lowest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 16% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #47 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.