Compare towns
Northfield vs Windsor vs Poultney
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).
Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.2%).
Poultney has the youngest population (median age 34).
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 | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
3,554 |
3,010Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-12%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1 16% below VT |
44.8±6.5Highest 4% above VT |
34±5.6Lowest 21% below VT |
| Windsor and Northfield 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% |
19.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.8%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Windsor and Poultney 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% |
22.8%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor and Poultney 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% |
35.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
9.3%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
$72,617±$6kHighest 11% below VT |
| Poultney 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±$31k 34% below VT |
$206,200±$18kLowest 35% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$1,026±$89Highest 17% below VT |
$913±$84Lowest 26% 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 |
$3,520Lowest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
71.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 20 yrs older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1968Highest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
23 minLowest 3% below VT |
29 minHighest 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Northfield and Poultney 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 | #41 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | — | Poultney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
— | 10.5Highest |
| 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.