Compare towns
Northfield vs Putney vs Royalton
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).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Royalton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).
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 | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
2,622Lowest |
2,752 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
37.2±5.2 14% below VT |
43.9±10.1Highest about the VT average |
| Royalton 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% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest 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% |
22.1%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Royalton 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% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2Lowest 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 |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
| Royalton and Putney 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 |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$263,200±$73kLowest 17% 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 |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,040±$391Highest 16% below VT |
| Royalton 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 |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,675Lowest 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
13% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1965 11 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Royalton 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 | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
| 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.