Compare towns
Williston vs Braintree vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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 | Williston | Braintree | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
1,026Lowest |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% VT: 73.2% |
81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 16% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Braintree 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
| 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.