Compare towns
Northfield vs Union 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).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Union | Castleton | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
2,663Lowest |
4,453 |
3,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%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. |
41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
42±5Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Williamstown and Union 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% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Union 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% |
21.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Castleton 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% |
34.4% 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% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest 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. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$94,418±$10kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Williamstown and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$234,900±$24k 29% below U.S. |
| Northfield and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,659±$189Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Williamstown and Union 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. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest 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% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest 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% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% 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. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above 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% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | 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.