Compare towns
Northfield vs Waitsfield 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 youngest population (median age 36.4).
Waitsfield has the most people working from home (31%).
Williamstown has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
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 | Waitsfield | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
193Lowest |
3,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
74.8±13.4Highest 74% above VT |
42±5 about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
0%±14.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown and Northfield 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% |
71.5%±17.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% VT: 43.8% |
71.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±9.1 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Northfield and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$26,384±$5kLowest 68% 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±$21k 13% below VT |
$453,100±$98kHighest 43% above VT |
$234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
— | $1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$4,688 7% below VT |
$3,841Lowest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
41.1%±49.6Lowest 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% |
3.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% VT: 73.2% |
33.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
14 minLowest 40% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
31%±23.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Waitsfield 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 | — | 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 Our Story | 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.