Compare towns
Northfield vs White River Junction 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
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 | White River Junction | Castleton | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
3,364Lowest |
4,453 |
3,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1 16% below VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
42±5Highest about the VT average |
| Williamstown and Castleton 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% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown and Castleton 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton 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% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
| White River Junction and Northfield 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 |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878 3% below VT |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest 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% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1963 13 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| White River Junction 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 Our Story | 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.