Compare towns
Northfield vs Ripton vs Putney vs Waitsfield
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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Waitsfield has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
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 | Ripton | Putney | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
508Lowest |
2,622 |
1,918 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+7.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
37.2±5.2 14% below VT |
44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
| Ripton and Waitsfield 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Waitsfield 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% VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3Lowest 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 |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$84,375±$34k 4% above VT |
| Ripton and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21kLowest 13% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT |
| Waitsfield and Ripton 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 |
$1,200±$821Highest about the VT average |
| Waitsfield and Northfield 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$6,208Highest 23% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6Lowest 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waitsfield and Ripton 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.