Compare towns

Northfield vs Eden 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).
Eden has the most affordable homes ($216k 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.

MeasureNorthfieldEdenWilliamstown
People
Population
5,920Highest
1,351Lowest
3,579
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+1.1%
VT: +2.8%
+3.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
36.4±4.1Lowest
16% below VT
37.7±1.9
13% below VT
42±5Highest
about the VT average
Williamstown and Eden 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%
20.4%±4.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
19.9%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
Eden 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%
11.6%±3.2Lowest
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%Highest
VT: 43.8%
17.4%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
17.6%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
15.1%±2.1Highest
VT: 7%
4.1%±3.8Lowest
VT: 7%
4.8%±3.2
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,768±$13kLowest
12% below VT
$83,578±$8k
about the VT average
$94,418±$10kHighest
16% above VT
Williamstown and Eden 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
$215,900±$27kLowest
32% 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
$1,018±$207Lowest
18% below VT
$1,300±$441
5% above VT
$1,659±$189Highest
34% above VT
Williamstown and Eden 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
$3,313Lowest
34% below VT
$3,841
24% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.3%±17.7
VT: 48.4%
34.3%±39Lowest
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
12.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
6.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.2%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
77.4%
VT: 73.2%
90.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
20 yrs older than VT
1991Highest
15 yrs newer than VT
1986
10 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
16% above VT
38 minHighest
63% above VT
23 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
12.1%±4.3
VT: 16.9%
5.6%±4Lowest
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 Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A 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

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.