Compare towns
Northfield vs Strafford 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).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Strafford | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
4,306 |
3,579Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
42±5 8% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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% |
17.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Williamstown and Strafford 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% |
19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Northfield and Strafford 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% |
40.2%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% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$94,418±$10k 17% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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. |
$427,900±$29kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$234,900±$24kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
$1,659±$189Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Williamstown and Strafford 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. |
$6,086Highest 95% above U.S. |
$3,841Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Strafford 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Strafford School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | 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 |
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.