Compare towns
Putney vs Northfield vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Putney | Northfield | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622 |
5,920Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2 14% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Putney and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
| Putney and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$272,900±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
| Putney and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,018±$207Highest 18% below VT |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
| Northfield and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$4,146Lowest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 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.