Compare towns
Northfield vs Pelham 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).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Williamstown has the shortest commute (23 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 | Pelham | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920 |
14,449Highest |
3,579Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
42±5Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Williamstown and Pelham 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% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Northfield and Williamstown 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% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$94,418±$10k 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$234,900±$24kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,659±$189Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Williamstown and Pelham 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. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$3,841Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Pelham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Pelham School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | Pelham High School | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
10.4Highest |
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.