Compare towns
Northfield vs Putney vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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 | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
2,622 |
2,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
37.2±5.2 4% below U.S. |
48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 11% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$362,600±$16kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207 28% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878Lowest 56% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney and Sutton 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 | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
— | 10.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.