Compare towns
Johnson vs Barre vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Johnson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Barre has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Johnson | Barre | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,450Lowest |
8,412Highest |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
42.2±6.6Highest about the VT average |
36.4±4.1 16% below VT |
| Barre and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Johnson and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 10.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Northfield and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest 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 | $55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
$71,768±$13kHighest 12% below VT |
| Northfield and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $169,400±$62kLowest 46% below VT |
$210,400±$15k 34% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$45Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,093±$58Highest 11% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
| Barre and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,310Lowest 34% below VT |
$5,192Highest 3% above VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest 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 | 12.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 42% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Northfield and Barre 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 | #19 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | Spaulding Union High School | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| 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.