Compare towns
Sutton vs Plainfield vs Northfield vs Derby Line
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most homeowners (85%).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (16.4%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Derby Line has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).
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 | Sutton | Plainfield | Northfield | Derby Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
1,314 |
5,920Highest |
783Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
46.7±13.3 8% above VT |
| Plainfield and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Derby Line and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.9%±6.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Derby Line and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
35.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$71,768±$13kHighest 12% below VT |
$71,518±$25k 12% below VT |
| Northfield and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$201,000±$52kLowest 37% below VT |
| Plainfield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$835±$334Lowest 32% below VT |
| Plainfield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,975 21% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$3,275Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
35.4%±24.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4% VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 26% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±9.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield and Derby Line 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 | — | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — | 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 | 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.