Compare towns
Northfield vs Windsor vs Ira
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).
Windsor has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Ira has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Windsor | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
3,554 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
44.8±6.5 4% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira and Windsor 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% |
19.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Windsor and Northfield 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% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor and Ira 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% |
39.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
$71,827±$5kHighest 12% below VT |
| Ira and Northfield 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 |
$207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Northfield and Ira 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 |
$1,026±$89Highest 17% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Windsor 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 |
$5,209Highest 3% above VT |
$4,146Lowest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Ira 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% |
7.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% VT: 73.2% |
57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 20 yrs older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
23 minLowest 3% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Northfield and Windsor 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 | #61 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — | — |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.