Compare towns
Northfield vs Waitsfield vs Windham
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 affordable homes ($274k median).
Waitsfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920 |
1,918Lowest |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
44.3±5.3Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
| Waitsfield and Windham 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% |
23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Waitsfield 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% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$84,375±$34k 5% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$422,400±$92k 27% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,200±$821 15% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878Lowest 56% above U.S. |
$6,208 99% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northfield and Windham 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Waitsfield 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.