Compare towns
Northfield vs Middlesex vs Clarendon
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).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Clarendon has the shortest commute (16 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 | Middlesex | Clarendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
1,943Lowest |
2,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
52.3±4.1Highest 21% above VT |
| Clarendon and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Clarendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Clarendon and Middlesex 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.1%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$59,609±$12kLowest 27% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$220,900±$32kLowest 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,096±$305 11% below VT |
| Middlesex and Clarendon 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,740Lowest 26% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±27.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Clarendon 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #42 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | Mill River Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Highest |
— | 9.4Lowest |
| 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.