Compare towns
Northfield vs Middlesex vs Castleton 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 renters (26.5% rent).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Middlesex | Castleton | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
1,943Lowest |
4,453 |
3,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
42±5 about the VT average |
| Middlesex 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 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$94,418±$10k 16% above VT |
| Middlesex 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 13% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
| Williamstown and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878 3% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | 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 | 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.