Compare towns
Northumberland vs Williston vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northumberland has the most affordable homes ($120k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% 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 | Northumberland | Williston | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,815Lowest |
10,144Highest |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±6.2Highest 17% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
| Northumberland and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Northumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $40,268±$7kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $120,100±$15kLowest 64% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$215,700±$24k 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$96Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,794Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,226 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.7%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 23.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Lancaster 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Northumberland School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | Groveton High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.