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Northfield vs Sumner

70 miles apart. The biggest differences: growth since 2010 (+17.9 pts in Northfield) and kids under 18 (+12.6 pts in Sumner).

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Northfield, WIA small town of 587Jackson County · 587 people

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Sumner, WIA small town of 729Barron County · 729 people

Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

NorthfieldA small town of 587

Quiet strengthsNorthfield doesn’t stand out on the data we haveNeighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.

All about Northfield →

SumnerA small town of 729

Quiet strengthsSumner doesn’t stand out on the data we haveNeighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.

All about Sumner →

The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Growth since 2010+17.9 pts

Northfield has grown faster since 2010

Northfield +5.5%Sumner -12.4%

Kids under 18+12.6 pts

Sumner has more kids

Sumner 31.3%Northfield 18.7%

Work from home+10.8 pts

More people work from home in Northfield

Northfield 16.8%Sumner 6%

Typical home built27 yrs

Northfield’s homes are older

Sumner 1987Northfield 1960

Property tax bill+26%

Tax bills are bigger in Sumner

Sumner $3,355Northfield $2,673

Jobs per worker+62%

Northfield is more of a job hub

Northfield 0.94Sumner 0.58

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $250 more a month in Sumner

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Down paymentRate%

Northfield$1,610/mo

Typical home $265K (Census) · tax rate 1.01% · or rent about $1,050/mo · Housing →

Sumner$1,860/mo

Typical home $302K (Census) · tax rate 1.11% · or rent about $1,500/mo · Housing →

The difference: $250 a month, about $3,000 a year, between Sumner and Northfield.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons

NorthfieldSumner

Snow a year41″53″

January low4°F 2°F

July high81°F 81°F

Growing season (days)143d 145d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)58th 28th

Outdoors & history

NorthfieldSumner

Trails2 mi 0 mi

Conserved land2.9%2%

Community

NorthfieldSumner

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

70 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

NorthfieldJackson County SumnerBarron County

Northfield ↔ Sumner70 miles apart

Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Only big differences vs Wisconsin average

NorthfieldSumner

People

Population 587Lowest 729Highest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +5.5%Highest WI: +3.6% -12.4%Lowest WI: +3.6%

Median age 38.5±4.2Lowest 4% below WI 40.2±7.9Highest about the WI average

Sumner and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 18.7%±3.1Lowest WI: 21.4% 31.3%±4.8Highest WI: 21.4%

Age 65+ 18.2%±3.4Lowest WI: 18.5% 20.2%±2.1Highest WI: 18.5%

Sumner and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 18.5%Highest WI: 33.4% 17.1%Lowest WI: 33.4%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 4.3%±3Highest WI: 5.8% 3%±2.4Lowest WI: 5.8%

Northfield and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $70,250±$22kLowest 9% below WI $79,286±$6kHighest about the WI average

Sumner and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $265,300±$30kLowest about the WI average $302,100±$55kHighest 13% above WI

Sumner and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,050±$284Lowest 3% below WI $1,500±$385Highest 38% above WI

Sumner and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Property taxmedian, yearly $2,673Lowest 30% below WI $3,355Highest 12% below WI

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 70%±100Highest WI: 43.7% 64.3%±98.5Lowest WI: 43.7%

Northfield and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 7.7%Highest WI: 10.6% 4%Lowest WI: 10.6%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 94.4%Highest WI: 67.8% 94%Lowest WI: 67.8%

Typical home builtmedian year 1960Lowest 15 yrs older than WI 1987Highest 12 yrs newer than WI

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 28 minHighest 27% above WI 27 minLowest 21% above WI

Work from home 16.8%±6.8Highest WI: 13.1% 6%±3.2Lowest WI: 13.1%

Work in townworking residents 4.2%Highest 0.3%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 19.3 miHighest 11.3 miLowest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.94Highest 0.58Lowest

Top workplaceoutside town Black River Falls (16%)Rice Lake (33%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in SumnerFew work in Northfield

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 2.9%Highest 2%Lowest

Trailsmapped miles 1.5 miHighest 0.0 miLowest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 mi 0.0 mi

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0Lowest 2Highest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 1.8Highest 1.5Lowest

Wisconsin average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024

Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Northfield neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Northfield’s Town Square.

Sumner neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Sumner’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Bordering Northfield

Hale970 people · $362K homes

Garfield704 people · $250K homes

Garden Valley398 people · $214K homes

Curran460 people · $318K homes

Towns like Northfield

Eaton607 people · $225K homes

Waumandee534 people · $232K homes

Richwood617 people · $223K homes

Goetz703 people · $289K homes

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.