Compare towns
Johnson vs Lowell 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%).
Lowell has the most kids (30.7% under 18).
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 | Lowell | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,450 |
1,070Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
32.9±6.5 24% below VT |
36.4±4.1Highest 16% below VT |
| Northfield and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell 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 VT: 21.4% |
12.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Northfield and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2% VT: 43.8% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.8%±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 |
$57,404±$15k 29% below VT |
$71,768±$13kHighest 12% below VT |
| Northfield and Lowell 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 |
$183,400±$33k 42% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$45 23% below VT |
$945±$46Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,018±$207Highest 18% below VT |
| Northfield and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,310 34% below VT |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9Lowest 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% |
9.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 42% above VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Northfield and Johnson 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 | Lowell School District | 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 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.