Compare towns
Northfield vs Westminster 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).
Westminster has the most people working from home (23.1%).
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 | Westminster | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
497Lowest |
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 |
43.3±11.5Highest about the VT average |
42±5 about the VT average |
| Westminster 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 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Northfield and Westminster 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% |
45.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
| Williamstown and Westminster 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 |
$313,600±$39kHighest about the VT average |
$234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
| Westminster and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$3,841Lowest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest 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% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 20 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster 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 | #53 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.