Compare towns
Johnson vs Windsor vs Northfield vs Bellows Falls
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%).
Windsor has the oldest population (median age 44.8).
Northfield has the most expensive homes ($274k median).
Bellows Falls has the most renters (49.3% rent).
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 | Windsor | Northfield | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,450 |
3,554 |
5,920Highest |
2,891Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
44.8±6.5Highest 4% above VT |
36.4±4.1 16% below VT |
41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
| Windsor and Bellows Falls 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% |
19.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Johnson and Bellows Falls 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% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor and Bellows Falls 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% |
39.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3 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±$14k 32% below VT |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
$71,768±$13kHighest 12% below VT |
$56,086±$2k 31% below VT |
| Northfield and Bellows Falls 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 |
$207,500±$31k 34% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
$195,600±$35k 38% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$45Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,026±$89 17% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$1,038±$109Highest 16% below VT |
| Bellows Falls and Windsor 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 |
$5,209Highest 3% above VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$4,448 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8 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% |
7.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% VT: 73.2% |
57.8% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 42% above VT |
23 min 3% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Northfield and Windsor 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 | #61 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — |
| High school 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 | 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.