Compare towns

Pomfret vs Williston vs Northfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pomfret has the most people working from home (30.3%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($274k median).

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.

MeasurePomfretWillistonNorthfield
People
Population
908Lowest
10,144Highest
5,920
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.3%
VT: +2.8%
+16.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-4.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
53.4±12.1Highest
24% above VT
45.4±4.5
5% above VT
36.4±4.1Lowest
16% below VT
Pomfret and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.4%±6
VT: 17.9%
20.5%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
14.6%±3.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Williston and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.5%±6.5Highest
VT: 21.4%
21%±3.5
VT: 21.4%
20%±3.8Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Pomfret and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
58%Highest
VT: 43.8%
54.9%
VT: 43.8%
34.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.4%±1.2Lowest
VT: 7%
5.7%±2.7
VT: 7%
15.1%±2.1Highest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,229±$8k
4% above VT
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above VT
$71,768±$13kLowest
12% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$399,200±$144k
26% above VT
$475,800±$40kHighest
50% above VT
$274,400±$21kLowest
13% below VT
Williston and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,170±$98
5% below VT
$1,832±$130Highest
48% above VT
$1,018±$207Lowest
18% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,722Highest
33% above VT
$5,592
11% above VT
$4,878Lowest
3% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
24%±22.4Lowest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±17.4
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±17.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
Northfield and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.8%
VT: 10.1%
4.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
12.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
75.1%
VT: 73.2%
73.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1970
6 yrs older than VT
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
1956Lowest
20 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
about the VT average
20 minLowest
16% below VT
27 minHighest
16% above VT
Work from home
30.3%±10.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
22.3%±7.6
VT: 16.9%
12.1%±4.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Pomfret 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 — #11 of 70 in VT #42 of 70 in VT
School district Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Paine Mountain Union School District #68
High school in town None in town None in town Northfield Middle/High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.0
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.