Compare towns

Northfield vs Pendleton vs Poultney

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Pendleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Poultney has the most affordable homes ($206k median).

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.

MeasureNorthfieldPendletonPoultney
People
Population
5,920
7,034Highest
3,010Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-12%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
36.4±4.1
6% below U.S.
46.7±4.1Highest
20% above U.S.
34±5.6Lowest
13% below U.S.
Kids under 18
14.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.8%±3.8
U.S.: 22%
Pendleton and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.8%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Pendleton and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
35.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
15.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
9.3%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,768±$13kLowest
11% below U.S.
$113,750±$27kHighest
41% above U.S.
$72,617±$6k
10% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$274,400±$21k
18% below U.S.
$294,300±$39kHighest
12% below U.S.
$206,200±$18kLowest
38% below U.S.
Pendleton 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
28% below U.S.
$994±$119
30% below U.S.
$913±$84Lowest
35% below U.S.
Northfield and Pendleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,878
56% above U.S.
$6,623Highest
112% above U.S.
$3,520Lowest
13% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.3%±17.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
6.6%±17.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±17.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Northfield and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
91.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
3% above U.S.
23 minLowest
15% below U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
Work from home
12.1%±4.3
U.S.: 15.1%
18.4%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.3%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Pendleton 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 #67 of 484 in NY #41 of 70 in VT
School district Paine Mountain Union School District #68 STARPOINT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70
High school in town Northfield Middle/High School STARPOINT HIGH SCHOOL Poultney High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.0Lowest
14.5Highest
10.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.