Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Castleton vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
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 | Bethlehem | Castleton | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537Lowest |
4,453 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bethlehem and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,029±$18kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,300±$22kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,418Highest 74% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 23% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #34 of 120 in NH | #39 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
— | 10.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.