The Town FilesNorthfield, Vermont
Town in Washington County · population 5,918 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $274,400
- Household income
- $71,768
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 76 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 36.4
Northfield is a town of 5,918 people in Washington County, Vermont. The median home is worth $274,400, close to the typical Vermont town ($278,700). It ranks better for young professionals than 98% of Vermont towns, more of a college town than 95% of Vermont towns, hipper than 89% of Vermont towns.
How Northfield ranks
Percentile among Vermont towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Vermont towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Northfield is worth $274,400, close to the typical Vermont town ($278,700). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $71,768, which is more affordable than 42% of Vermont towns. Median rent is $1,018 a month. 73.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Northfield | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $274,400 | $278,700 |
| Median rent | $1,018 | $1,117 |
| Median household income | $71,768 | $76,895 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 3.6× |
| Homeownership | 73.5% | 81.6% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Northfield
| People | Northfield | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.4 | 45.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.0% | 22.2% |
| Under 18 | 14.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.6% | 38.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.5% | 8.6% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 12.1% | 14.9% |
| Average commute | 27.2 min | 25.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.2% | 89.3% |
Weather in Northfield
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 6.3°F. About 44.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 75.8 inches of snow (typical Vermont town: 84.3 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 181 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Northfield since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Vermont town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on April 16, 2026 about 9.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 16, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 26, 2011.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4810: Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| August 8, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3609: Tropical Depression Debby |
| July 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4720: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| July 10, 2023 | Flood | EM-3595: Flooding |
| March 20, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4695: Severe Storm And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 33,484 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $67,784 a year. Unemployment was 2% in 2023; in Northfield itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Public schools in Northfield
2 public schools with 526 students, about 12.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northfield Elementary School | PK-5 | 283 | 14.2 |
| Northfield Middle/High School | 6-12 | 243 | 11.0 |
Towns near Northfield
- Northfield, VT1.7 mi · 3,757 people · home $241,400
- Berlin, VT5.7 mi · 2,849 people · home $273,600
- Williamstown, VT7.8 mi · 3,515 people · home $234,900
- Barre, VT9.8 mi · 8,491 people · home $210,400
- Montpelier, VT10.1 mi · 8,074 people · home $375,100
- Barre, VT11.0 mi · 7,923 people · home $281,400
- East Montpelier, VT13.7 mi · 2,598 people · home $378,700
- Randolph, VT16.1 mi · 4,774 people · home $278,700
Northfield questions
Is Northfield, Vermont a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Northfield scores better for retirees than 77% of Vermont towns and quieter than 14%. 20.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.4).
How much does a house cost in Northfield?
The median owner-occupied home in Northfield is valued at $274,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,768, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $1,018 a month.
What is the weather like in Northfield?
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 6.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.7 inches of precipitation a year and 75.8 inches of snow.
Does Northfield get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Northfield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on April 16, 2026. The typical Vermont town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)