Compare towns
Northfield vs Wheelock vs Castleton 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 expensive homes ($274k median).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Wheelock | Castleton | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
717Lowest |
4,453 |
3,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
42±5 about the VT average |
| Wheelock 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% |
18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown and Wheelock 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% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock 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% VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
| Williamstown and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
| Northfield and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
— | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$3,167 37% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock 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 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | — | 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.