Compare towns
Northfield vs Peacham 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 most affordable homes ($274k median).
Peacham has the most people working from home (24.2%).
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 | Peacham | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
887Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
50.1±5.7Highest 16% above VT |
37.2±5.2 14% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Peacham and Putney 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% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.4%±4Lowest 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 |
$90,000±$28kHighest 11% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Peacham 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±$21kLowest 13% below VT |
$302,000±$64kHighest 5% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Peacham and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$1,028±$248Highest 17% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Peacham and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878Lowest 3% below VT |
$5,605Highest 11% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Peacham and Northfield 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% |
10.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% VT: 73.2% |
76.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Peacham 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 | Peacham School District | 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.