Compare towns
Northfield vs Poultney vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Poultney has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Poultney | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
1,033 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1 16% below VT |
28.2±4.5Lowest 35% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
| Ripton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
16.8%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest 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%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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 VT: 43.8% |
38.4% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
| Poultney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$70,536±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$196,600±$43kLowest 38% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above 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 | $4,878 3% below VT |
$3,450Lowest 32% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
23.2%±12.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Ripton 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% |
11.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% VT: 73.2% |
56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 20 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton 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 | #41 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.