Compare towns
Fair Haven 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
Fair Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
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 | Fair Haven | Northfield | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,724 |
5,920Highest |
2,622Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6Highest 9% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
37.2±5.2 14% below VT |
| Fair Haven and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Fair Haven and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Northfield and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±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 | $62,404±$16kLowest 23% 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 | $176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
| Putney and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$116 33% below VT |
$1,018±$207Highest 18% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Northfield and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,865Lowest 23% below VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9Lowest 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 | 18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Putney and Northfield 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 | #66 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.0Lowest |
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| 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.