Compare towns
Orleans vs Northfield vs Barton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orleans has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.7%).
Northfield has the most expensive homes ($274k median).
Barton has the most people working from home (16.5%).
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 | Orleans | Northfield | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 809 |
5,920Highest |
730Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.7±5.8Highest 3% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
40±5.5 7% below VT |
| Orleans and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Barton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.8% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.1 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,159±$10k 30% below VT |
$71,768±$13kHighest 12% below VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
| Northfield and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $156,300±$18k 51% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $810±$94 34% below VT |
$1,018±$207Highest 18% below VT |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
| Northfield and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$3,185 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1956Highest 20 yrs older than VT |
1945 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 33% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Barton and Northfield 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 | #38 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 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.