Compare towns
Northfield vs Hermon vs Castleton 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).
Hermon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.3%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Williamstown has the most people working from home (13.9%).
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 | Hermon | Castleton | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920 |
6,727Highest |
4,453 |
3,579Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+19.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
41.1±4.7 6% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
42±5Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Williamstown and Hermon 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% |
21.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Hermon and Williamstown 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% |
20.4%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Castleton and Hermon 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% |
37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$96,629±$22kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$94,418±$10k 17% above U.S. |
| Hermon 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. |
$333,600±$32kHighest about the U.S. average |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$234,900±$24k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,406±$202 about the U.S. average |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,659±$189Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Williamstown and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
$2,761Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$3,841 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.2%±19.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
2000Highest 20 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest 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 | #54 of 133 in ME | #39 of 70 in VT | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Hermon Public Schools | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | Hermon High School | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
14.6Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| 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.