The Town FilesWilliamstown, Vermont
Town in Orange County · population 3,515 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $234,900
- Household income
- $94,418
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 76 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 42.0
Williamstown is a town of 3,515 people in Orange County, Vermont. The median home is worth $234,900, below the typical Vermont town ($278,700). It ranks easier by car than 100% of Vermont towns, more of a college town than 93% of Vermont towns, more walkable than 72% of Vermont towns.
How Williamstown ranks
Percentile among Vermont towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Vermont towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Williamstown is worth $234,900, below the typical Vermont town ($278,700). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $94,418, which is more affordable than 96% of Vermont towns. Median rent is $1,659 a month. 90.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Williamstown | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $234,900 | $278,700 |
| Median rent | $1,659 | $1,117 |
| Median household income | $94,418 | $76,895 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 3.6× |
| Homeownership | 90.7% | 81.6% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.6% | — |
Who lives in Williamstown
| People | Williamstown | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.0 | 45.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.0% | 22.2% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.6% | 38.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.2% | 8.6% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 13.9% | 14.9% |
| Average commute | 23.2 min | 25.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.2% | 89.3% |
Weather in Williamstown
July highs average 77.6°F and January lows 7.4°F. About 38.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 75.8 inches of snow (typical Vermont town: 84.3 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 169 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Williamstown since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Vermont town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on April 16, 2026 about 1.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 16, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 26, 2011.
Severe weather in Orange County since 1996
Orange County has been included in 34 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4810: Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| August 8, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3609: Tropical Depression Debby |
| March 2, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4762: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| July 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4720: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| July 10, 2023 | Flood | EM-3595: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Orange County
Orange County had 7,898 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,315 a year. Unemployment was 2% in 2023; in Williamstown itself the ACS puts it at 0.9%.
Public schools in Williamstown
2 public schools with 498 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Williamstown Middle/High School | 6-12 | 266 | 14.8 |
| Williamstown Elementary School | PK-5 | 232 | 12.2 |
Towns near Williamstown
- Barre, VT6.0 mi · 7,923 people · home $281,400
- Northfield, VT6.2 mi · 3,757 people · home $241,400
- Barre, VT6.3 mi · 8,491 people · home $210,400
- Berlin, VT7.2 mi · 2,849 people · home $273,600
- Northfield, VT7.8 mi · 5,918 people · home $274,400
- Montpelier, VT10.8 mi · 8,074 people · home $375,100
- East Montpelier, VT12.9 mi · 2,598 people · home $378,700
- Randolph, VT13.5 mi · 4,774 people · home $278,700
Williamstown questions
Is Williamstown, Vermont a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Williamstown scores better for retirees than 6% of Vermont towns and quieter than 44%. 17.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.0).
How much does a house cost in Williamstown?
The median owner-occupied home in Williamstown is valued at $234,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $94,418, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $1,659 a month.
What is the weather like in Williamstown?
July highs average 77.6°F and January lows 7.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.7 inches of precipitation a year and 75.8 inches of snow.
Does Williamstown get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Williamstown since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on April 16, 2026. The typical Vermont town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)