Compare towns
Northfield vs Lowell vs Moretown
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 most renters (26.5% rent).
Lowell has the most kids (30.7% under 18).
Moretown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
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 | Lowell | Moretown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
1,070Lowest |
1,532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+5.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1 16% below VT |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
46.8±3.8Highest 9% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
18%±2.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Northfield and Moretown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% VT: 43.8% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
$104,423±$7kHighest 29% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$380,800±$36kHighest 20% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Highest 18% below VT |
$945±$46 23% below VT |
$838±$462Lowest 32% below VT |
| Northfield and Lowell 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 |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$5,506Highest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9 VT: 48.4% |
16.1%±14.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
3.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Moretown 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Lowell School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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.