Compare towns
Northfield vs Williston 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 youngest population (median age 36.4).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Williamstown has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Williston | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920 |
10,144Highest |
3,579Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
42±5 about the VT average |
| Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Williamstown 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% |
21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$94,418±$10k 16% above VT |
| Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,659±$189 34% above VT |
| Williston and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878 3% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,841Lowest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 |
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.