Compare towns
Northfield vs White River Junction vs Windsor
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 homeowners (73.5%).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
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 | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
3,364Lowest |
3,554 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1 16% below VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
44.8±6.5Highest 4% above VT |
| Windsor and Northfield 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% |
19.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Windsor and White River Junction 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% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor 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 VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
39.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1 VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$77,168±$4kHighest 5% below VT |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
| White River Junction 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 |
$278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT |
$207,500±$31kLowest 34% 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±$216Highest about the VT average |
$1,026±$89 17% below VT |
| White River Junction and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878Lowest 3% below VT |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$5,209 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and White River Junction 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% |
7.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
57.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 20 yrs older than VT |
1963Highest 13 yrs older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
23 min 3% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| White River Junction and Northfield 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 | — | #61 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — | — |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
— | — |
| 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.