Compare towns
Northfield vs Hampton Beach 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 youngest population (median age 36.4).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Williamstown has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
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 | Hampton Beach | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
2,605Lowest |
3,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
42±5 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest 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% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$82,557±$17k about the U.S. average |
$94,418±$10kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Williamstown and Hampton Beach 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. |
$508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$234,900±$24kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,659±$189Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Williamstown and Hampton Beach 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. |
$6,115Highest 96% above U.S. |
$3,841Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Lowest 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% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | — | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.