Compare towns
Northfield vs Williston vs Dummerston vs Waitsfield
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 affordable homes ($274k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Dummerston has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Waitsfield has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
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 | Williston | Dummerston | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920 |
10,144Highest |
2,090 |
1,918Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+7.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
| Dummerston and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield and Dummerston 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% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
58.7% VT: 43.8% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$84,375±$34k 4% above VT |
| Williston and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21kLowest 13% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$422,400±$92k 33% above VT |
| Williston and Waitsfield 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 |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,200±$821 about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878 3% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,208Highest 23% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Waitsfield 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
— | — | — |
| 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.