Compare towns
Fair Haven 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
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
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 | Fair Haven | Northfield | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,724Lowest |
5,920Highest |
3,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
42±5Highest about the VT average |
| Williamstown and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Northfield and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
| Williamstown and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,500±$14kLowest 44% 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 | $830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,865 23% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$3,841Lowest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9Lowest 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 | 18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Williamstown and Northfield 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 | #66 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | Northfield Middle/High School | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.0 |
9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.