Compare towns
Williamstown vs Ripton 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 the most kids (19.9% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Northfield has the most renters (26.5% rent).
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 | Ripton | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,579 |
508Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±5 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Ripton and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown and Northfield 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,418±$10k 16% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Ripton and Williamstown 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
— | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,841Lowest 24% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Lowest 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% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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 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.