Compare towns
Northfield vs Castleton vs Williamstown vs Cambridge
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 youngest population (median age 36.4).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Williamstown has the highest household income ($94k).
Cambridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
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 | Castleton | Williamstown | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
4,453 |
3,579Lowest |
3,767 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+4.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
42±5Highest about the VT average |
37.4±1.8 13% below VT |
| Williamstown and Castleton 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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Cambridge and Williamstown 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% |
20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton and Northfield 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% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
50.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$72,344±$19k 11% below VT |
| Williamstown and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
$343,000±$38kHighest 8% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$1,183±$66 4% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878 3% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
$4,910Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
66.6%±7.3 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
6.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1985 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±4.1 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #47 of 70 in VT | #25 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Cambridge School District |
| 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 Our Story | 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.