Compare towns
Northfield vs Belvidere vs Williamstown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the most expensive homes ($274k median).
Belvidere has the most kids (22% under 18).
Williamstown has the highest household income ($94k).
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 | Northfield | Belvidere | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
422Lowest |
3,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
40.7±6.5 6% below VT |
42±5Highest about the VT average |
| Williamstown and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Belvidere and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Northfield and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% VT: 43.8% |
35.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$81,563±$18k about the VT average |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
| Williamstown and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
$239,200±$51k 24% below VT |
$234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
| Northfield and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,542±$1k 25% above VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
| Williamstown and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$3,841Lowest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±53.8 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±7.6Lowest 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | — | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school 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.