Compare towns
Williston vs Windham vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Windham has the most homeowners (84.6%).
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 | Windham | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144 |
19,188Highest |
5,920Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Williston and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Windham and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$274,400±$21kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Windham 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | RSU 14 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.