Compare towns
Johnson vs Bow vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Northfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
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 | Bow | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,450Lowest |
8,335Highest |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 30.9±6.5Lowest 21% below U.S. |
41.5±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1 6% below U.S. |
| Bow and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±5 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 10.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Northfield and Bow 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 31% below U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13k 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $169,400±$62kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$45Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,018±$207 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,310Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±20.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #57 of 70 in VT | #26 of 120 in NH | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Bow School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.