Compare towns
Northfield vs Cornish vs Williamstown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the most renters (26.5% rent).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
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 | Northfield | Cornish | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
1,816Lowest |
3,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
42±5 8% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Williamstown and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$94,418±$10kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Williamstown and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$234,900±$24kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$1,659±$189Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878 56% above U.S. |
$5,796Highest 86% above U.S. |
$3,841Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Cornish School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | 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 |
U.S. 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.