Compare towns
Bellows Falls vs Johnson vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bellows Falls has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Johnson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Northfield has the most expensive 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 | Bellows Falls | Johnson | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,891Lowest |
3,450 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.3±6.7Highest 4% below VT |
30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
36.4±4.1 16% below VT |
| Bellows Falls and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Johnson and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±5.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.2% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.3Lowest VT: 7% |
14.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Northfield and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,086±$2k 31% below VT |
$55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$71,768±$13kHighest 12% below VT |
| Northfield and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,600±$35k 38% below VT |
$169,400±$62kLowest 46% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$109Highest 16% below VT |
$948±$45Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
| Bellows Falls and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,448 12% below VT |
$3,310Lowest 34% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.9%±16.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.6%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
58.4% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.8%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Northfield and Johnson 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 | — | #57 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | 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.