Compare towns

Hampton vs Northfield vs Smithville

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Northfield has the most expensive homes ($274k median).
Smithville has the most kids (16.6% under 18).

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.

MeasureHamptonNorthfieldSmithville
People
Population
1,145Lowest
5,920Highest
1,525
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-8.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±14.7Highest
11% above U.S.
36.4±4.1Lowest
6% below U.S.
43.1±3.2Highest
11% above U.S.
Kids under 18
15.9%±6.9
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.6%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Smithville and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
16.1%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hampton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
15.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
15.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±5.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,796±$8kHighest
9% below U.S.
$71,768±$13k
11% below U.S.
$70,433±$7kLowest
13% below U.S.
Hampton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$166,800±$10kLowest
50% below U.S.
$274,400±$21kHighest
18% below U.S.
$173,200±$42k
48% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,264±$375Highest
11% below U.S.
$1,018±$207
28% below U.S.
$889±$186Lowest
37% below U.S.
Hampton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,007Lowest
4% below U.S.
$4,878Highest
56% above U.S.
$4,254
36% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
13.2%±25.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±17.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.9%±31.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Northfield and Smithville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
27 min
3% above U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
Work from home
7.8%±8.4
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
4.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Northfield and Hampton 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 —
School district — Paine Mountain Union School District #68 —
High school in town — Northfield Middle/High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.0
—
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U.S. 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.