Compare towns
Northfield vs Sidney 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).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Williamstown has the highest household income ($94k).
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 | Sidney | Castleton | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
4,790 |
4,453 |
3,579Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
43±5.5Highest 11% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
42±5 8% above U.S. |
| Sidney 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% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney 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% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Castleton 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% |
33.5% 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% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest 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. |
$83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$94,418±$10kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Williamstown and Sidney 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. |
$336,200±$34kHighest 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. |
$1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,659±$189Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Williamstown and Sidney 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. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$3,841 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%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% |
89.4% 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. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below 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% |
14.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sidney 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 | #15 of 133 in ME | #39 of 70 in VT | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | RSU 18 | 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.