Compare towns
Pownal vs Middlesex vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pownal has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Northfield has the most renters (26.5% rent).
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 | Pownal | Middlesex | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,265 |
1,943Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49±9.1Highest 14% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Pownal and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.5%±6.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Pownal and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,163±$21kLowest 21% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,600±$32kLowest 19% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $944±$139Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
| Middlesex and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,560Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Pownal 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 | #67 of 70 in VT | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.