Compare towns
Braintree vs Northfield vs Williston
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 youngest population (median age 36.4).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
5,920 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston 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%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 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 | 11.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Braintree 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 | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| 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.