Compare towns
Addison vs Castleton vs Cornwall vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Addison has the oldest population (median age 53.1).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Cornwall has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Northfield has the most renters (26.5% rent).
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 | Addison | Castleton | Cornwall | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,175Lowest |
4,453 |
1,208 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.1±7.6Highest 23% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Addison and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±1.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Addison and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$7k 31% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Cornwall and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$23k 14% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$461Highest 64% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,831 16% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±62.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.