Compare towns

Putney vs Sutton vs Northfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($274k median).

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.

MeasurePutneySuttonNorthfield
People
Population
2,622
2,239Lowest
5,920Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.2±5.2
4% below U.S.
48.1±4.1Highest
24% above U.S.
36.4±4.1Lowest
6% below U.S.
Kids under 18
15.4%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Sutton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.1%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Sutton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
15.1%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
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±$18k
about the U.S. average
$130,313±$31kHighest
61% above U.S.
$71,768±$13kLowest
11% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$300,000±$44k
10% below U.S.
$362,600±$16kHighest
9% above U.S.
$274,400±$21kLowest
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,656±$614Highest
17% above U.S.
$1,018±$207
28% below U.S.
Sutton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,313
70% above U.S.
$7,652Highest
145% above U.S.
$4,878Lowest
56% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4
U.S.: 51.1%
27.6%±47.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±17.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
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
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
27 min
3% above U.S.
Work from home
16.9%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.8%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Putney and Sutton 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 Kearsarge Regional School District Paine Mountain Union School District #68
High school in town None in town Kearsarge Regional High School Northfield Middle/High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.4Highest
10.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 6 photos → None yet None yet

U.S. 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.