Compare towns
Williamstown vs Reading vs Highgate 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%).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Reading | Highgate | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,579 |
699Lowest |
3,528 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±5 about the VT average |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Reading and Highgate 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Highgate 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% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Williamstown and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,841 24% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Highgate 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 9.8 |
10.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.