Compare towns
Bloomfield vs Castleton vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bloomfield has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Northfield has the most people working from home (12.1%).
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 | Bloomfield | Castleton | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 234Lowest |
4,453 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.9±12Highest about the VT average |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Bloomfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±14.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Bloomfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±8Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bloomfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,375±$17kLowest 33% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $190,600±$63kLowest 40% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
| Northfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,800Lowest 44% below VT |
$3,167 37% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Lowest 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 | 2.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 28% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 4.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Northfield and Castleton 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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 |
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.