Compare towns
Braintree vs Northfield vs Williamstown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Northfield has the most expensive homes ($274k median).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Braintree | Northfield | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
5,920Highest |
3,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
42±5 about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
| Williamstown and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
| Northfield and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 22% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$3,841Lowest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.