Compare towns
Northfield vs Williston vs Windham vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
Windham has the highest household income ($108k).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
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 | Windham | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920 |
10,144 |
19,188Highest |
2,880Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Berlin 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
| Windham and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878 56% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northfield and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Windham 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | RSU 14 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.