Compare towns
Northfield vs Williamstown vs Windham
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).
Williamstown has the most affordable homes ($235k median).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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 | Williamstown | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
3,579 |
594Lowest |
| 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 |
42±5 about the VT average |
44.2±7.4Highest about the VT average |
| Windham 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% |
19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown and Windham 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% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham 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% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$94,418±$10k 16% above VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
| Windham and Williamstown 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 |
$234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878 3% below VT |
$3,841Lowest 24% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest 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% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Windham 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 | #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 History | 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.