Compare towns
Northfield vs Proctor 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 youngest population (median age 36.4).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
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 | Proctor | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
1,794Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
42.4±6.4Highest about the VT average |
37.2±5.2 14% below VT |
| Proctor and Putney 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% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor 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% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor 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% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest 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 |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
| Putney and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
| Putney and Northfield 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 |
$1,029±$202Highest 17% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Proctor and Northfield 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 |
$4,032Lowest 20% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 20 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Highest |
8.7Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.