Compare towns
Worcester vs Williston vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most homeowners (85.9%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Worcester | Williston | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
10,144Highest |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Worcester and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest 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+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Highest 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+ | 53% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 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 | 5.9% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Williston 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 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.