Compare towns
Northfield vs Putney vs Ripton
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).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Putney | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
2,622 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
37.2±5.2 14% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
| Ripton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Putney and Northfield 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
| Putney 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±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21kLowest 13% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Highest 18% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
— |
| Northfield and Putney 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 |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| 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 History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.