Compare towns
Williamstown vs Northfield vs Fair Haven
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%).
Northfield has the most expensive homes ($274k median).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k 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 | Northfield | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,579 |
5,920Highest |
2,724Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±5Highest about the VT average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
| Williamstown and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Northfield and Fair Haven 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% |
34.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Williamstown and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Northfield and Williamstown 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 |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,841Lowest 24% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Lowest 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williamstown and Northfield 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 | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | Northfield Middle/High School | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
10.0 |
12.8Highest |
| 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.