Compare towns
Williamstown vs Franklin vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Franklin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Northfield has the most expensive 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.
| Measure | Williamstown | Franklin | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,579 |
1,590Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±5Highest about the VT average |
38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Williamstown and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Northfield and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Williamstown and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
| Northfield and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,841 24% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 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 | 8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 8% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin 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 | #47 of 70 in VT | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 10.0Highest |
| 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.