Compare towns
Royalton vs Putney vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Royalton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Royalton | Putney | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,752 |
2,622Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.9±10.1Highest about the VT average |
37.2±5.2 14% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Royalton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 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+ | 22.1%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Royalton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8%±4.2Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 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 | $103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Royalton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,200±$73kLowest 17% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% 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 | $1,040±$391Highest 16% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
| Royalton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,675Lowest 7% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±16.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest 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 | 13% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 11 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 13% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.8%±7.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Royalton and Putney 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 | #48 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | White River Unified School District #79 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | White River Valley High School | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
— | 10.0Highest |
| 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.