Compare towns
Northfield vs Strafford vs Sutton 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 renters (26.5% rent).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
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 | Strafford | Sutton | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
1,372 |
790Lowest |
3,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
42±5 about the VT average |
| Strafford and Sutton 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% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Williamstown 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford and Sutton 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% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$94,418±$10k 16% above VT |
| 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 13% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
— | $1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
| 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 3% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$3,841Lowest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | — | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Strafford School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | 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 |
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.