Compare towns
Johnson vs Calais 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 the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Northfield has the shortest commute (27 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 | Johnson | Calais | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,450 |
1,713Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
42±8.6Highest about the VT average |
36.4±4.1 16% below VT |
| Calais 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% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Johnson and Calais 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% |
21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Calais and Northfield 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% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Lowest 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 |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
| Calais and Northfield 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 |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$45Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
| Calais 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 |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 42% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais 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 | #57 of 70 in VT | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
| 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.