Compare towns
Williston vs White River Junction 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 the most expensive homes ($476k median).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Northfield has the most affordable 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 | Williston | White River Junction | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
3,364Lowest |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
36.4±4.1 16% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Williston and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$274,400±$21kLowest 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 11% above VT |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$4,878Lowest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest 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% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1963 13 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and White River Junction 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 | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school 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.