Compare towns
Northfield vs Pendleton 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).
Pendleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Williamstown has the most affordable homes ($235k median).
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 | Pendleton | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920 |
7,034Highest |
3,579Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
46.7±4.1Highest 20% above U.S. |
42±5 8% above U.S. |
| Pendleton 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% |
21.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Pendleton 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% |
23%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pendleton and Northfield 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% |
34.9%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% |
4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$113,750±$27kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$94,418±$10k 17% above U.S. |
| Pendleton 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. |
$294,300±$39kHighest 12% below U.S. |
$234,900±$24kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Pendleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207 28% below U.S. |
$994±$119Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,659±$189Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878 56% above U.S. |
$6,623Highest 112% above U.S. |
$3,841Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
6.6%±17.3Lowest 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% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pendleton 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 | #67 of 484 in NY | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | STARPOINT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | STARPOINT HIGH SCHOOL | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
14.5Highest |
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.