Compare towns
Northfield vs Braintree vs Williamstown vs Castleton
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).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Braintree | Williamstown | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
1,026Lowest |
3,579 |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
42±5 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% VT: 43.8% |
30.9% VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below 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 | $274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% 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 | $1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Castleton 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% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest 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 | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.