Compare towns

Northfield vs Ryegate vs Sutton

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 expensive homes ($274k median).
Ryegate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).
Sutton has the oldest population (median age 46.6).

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.

MeasureNorthfieldRyegateSutton
People
Population
5,920Highest
1,059
790Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.7%
VT: +2.8%
-0.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-11.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
36.4±4.1Lowest
16% below VT
41.2±2.6
4% below VT
46.6±5.7Highest
8% above VT
Sutton and Ryegate 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%
23.2%±4.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
17.3%±3.4
VT: 17.9%
Ryegate and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20%±3.8Lowest
VT: 21.4%
22.1%±1.5Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.6%±2.7
VT: 21.4%
Ryegate and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.6%Highest
VT: 43.8%
29.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
32.8%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
15.1%±2.1Highest
VT: 7%
2.4%±1.4
VT: 7%
2.3%±1.8Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,768±$13kHighest
12% below VT
$66,484±$15kLowest
18% below VT
$71,250±$18k
12% below VT
Northfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$274,400±$21kHighest
13% below VT
$219,300±$32kLowest
31% below VT
$231,100±$41k
27% below VT
Northfield and Sutton 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
$908±$236Lowest
26% below VT
—
Northfield and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,878Highest
3% below VT
$3,472Lowest
31% below VT
$3,975
21% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.3%±17.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
55.9%±29.7
VT: 48.4%
37.8%±31.1Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Northfield and Ryegate 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%
14.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
12.4%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.7%
VT: 73.2%
85%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956
20 yrs older than VT
1949Lowest
27 yrs older than VT
1979Highest
3 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
16% above VT
28 min
18% above VT
30 minHighest
26% above VT
Work from home
12.1%±4.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
8.2%±3.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
11.6%±5.3
VT: 16.9%
Northfield 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 — —
School district Paine Mountain Union School District #68 — Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64
High school in town Northfield Middle/High School — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.0
— —
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.