Compare towns
Northfield vs Epping vs Williamstown vs Castleton
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).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Williamstown has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
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 | Epping | Williamstown | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920 |
7,430Highest |
3,579Lowest |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
42±5 8% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
| Epping and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Castleton 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% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$94,418±$10k 17% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
| Epping and Williamstown 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. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$234,900±$24k 29% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,659±$189 17% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
| Epping and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878 56% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,841 23% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Epping 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% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #47 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Epping School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | Epping High School | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Highest |
9.3Lowest |
9.5 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.