Compare towns
Northfield vs Poultney 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 expensive homes ($274k median).
Poultney has the most renters (43.3% rent).
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 | Poultney | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
1,033Lowest |
3,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1 16% below VT |
28.2±4.5Lowest 35% below VT |
42±5Highest about the VT average |
| Williamstown and Northfield 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% |
16.8%±5 VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown and Poultney 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% |
21.1%±6.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Poultney 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% VT: 43.8% |
38.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$70,536±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
| Williamstown and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
$196,600±$43kLowest 38% below VT |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
| Northfield and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$868±$113Lowest 30% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$3,450Lowest 32% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
23.2%±12.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
11.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% VT: 73.2% |
56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 20 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #41 of 70 in VT | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | — | 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 |
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.