Compare towns
Northfield vs Braintree vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 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 | Northfield | Braintree | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
1,026Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
37.2±5.2 14% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Putney and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest 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 | $71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Braintree and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% 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 | $1,018±$207Highest 18% below VT |
$840±$405 32% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Northfield and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878 3% below VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 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 | 12.5% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% VT: 73.2% |
81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Putney 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| 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.