Compare towns
Barnard vs Williston vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($274k 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 | Barnard | Williston | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
10,144Highest |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Williston and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Barnard and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Williston and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$274,400±$21kLowest 13% below VT |
| Williston and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80 11% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$4,878Lowest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 21% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Barnard 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 | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.