What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.7%).

Poultney has the most affordable homes ($197k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Northfield	Poultney
People
Population	5,920Highest	1,033Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.7%Highest VT: +2.8%	-33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	36.4±4.1Highest 16% below VT	28.2±4.5Lowest 35% below VT
	Northfield and Poultney 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%	16.8%±5Highest VT: 17.9%
	Poultney and Northfield 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%	21.1%±6.6Highest VT: 21.4%
	Poultney and Northfield 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 VT: 43.8%	38.4%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	15.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7%	22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,768±$13kHighest 12% below VT	$70,536±$11kLowest 13% below VT
	Northfield and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT	$196,600±$43kLowest 38% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,018±$207Highest 18% below VT	$868±$113Lowest 30% below VT
	Northfield and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,878Highest 3% below VT	$3,450Lowest 32% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4%	23.2%±12.4Lowest VT: 48.4%
Below poverty line	12.5%Highest VT: 10.1%	11.4%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.5%Highest VT: 73.2%	56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Highest 20 yrs older than VT	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 16% above VT	31 minHighest 33% above VT
Work from home	12.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9%	11.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Northfield and Poultney 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	#41 of 70 in VT
School district	Paine Mountain Union School District #68	—
High school in town	Northfield Middle/High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	10.0	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.