Compare towns
Williamstown vs Proctor 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%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
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 | Proctor | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,579 |
1,794Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±5 about the VT average |
42.4±6.4Highest about the VT average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Proctor and Williamstown 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% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor and Williamstown 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% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Northfield 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% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Williamstown and Proctor 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 |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% 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 |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,841Lowest 24% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Lowest 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% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 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 |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
8.7Lowest |
10.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.