Compare towns
Northfield vs Ossipee 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 most renters (26.5% rent).
Ossipee has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Ossipee | Castleton | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
4,521 |
4,453 |
3,579Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
50±4.6Highest 29% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
42±5 8% above U.S. |
| Ossipee 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% |
19.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Williamstown and Ossipee 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% |
26.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ossipee 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% |
24.8% 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% |
2.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$90,521±$22k 12% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$94,418±$10kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Williamstown and Ossipee 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. |
$325,500±$23kHighest 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. |
$1,601±$245 13% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,659±$189Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Williamstown and Ossipee 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. |
$4,401 41% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,841 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Ossipee 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% |
8.1%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% |
82% 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. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above 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% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | #39 of 70 in VT | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | 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 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.