Compare towns
Orange vs Northfield vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.2%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Groton has the highest household income ($77k).
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 | Orange | Northfield | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 957Lowest |
5,920Highest |
967 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
| Orange and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Orange and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Groton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
38.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7 VT: 7% |
| Northfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,302±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$77,250±$14kHighest 5% below VT |
| Groton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
$243,000±$70k 23% below VT |
| Northfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
| Orange and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$3,659 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
30 minHighest 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7 VT: 16.9% |
| Orange and Groton 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | — |
| 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.