Compare towns
Johnson vs Putney 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%).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
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 | Putney | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,450 |
2,622Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
37.2±5.2Highest 14% below VT |
36.4±4.1 16% below VT |
| Putney 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% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Johnson and Putney 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% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Northfield and Putney 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% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Putney and Northfield 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 |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
| Putney 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 |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Putney and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$45 23% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% 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 | $3,310Lowest 34% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±20.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Putney 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 42% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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.