Compare towns
Ripton vs Poultney vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Poultney has the most affordable homes ($197k 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.
| Measure | Ripton | Poultney | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,033 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
28.2±4.5Lowest 35% below VT |
36.4±4.1 16% below VT |
| Ripton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.8%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Poultney and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.4% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Poultney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$70,536±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$196,600±$43kLowest 38% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $868±$113Lowest 30% below VT |
$1,018±$207Highest 18% below VT |
| Northfield and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,450Lowest 32% below VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
23.2%±12.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.4% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton 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 | — | #41 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | 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.