Compare towns
Dover vs Northfield vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Dover | Northfield | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466Lowest |
5,920Highest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
37.2±5.2 14% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Putney and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
| Putney and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$274,400±$21kLowest 13% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Dover and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49 46% below VT |
$1,018±$207Highest 18% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Putney 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.