Compare towns
Brandon vs Castleton vs Northfield vs Goshen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brandon has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Northfield has the most renters (26.5% rent).
Goshen has the most expensive homes ($330k median).
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 | Brandon | Castleton | Northfield | Goshen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120 |
4,453 |
5,920Highest |
142Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
58.9±8.3Highest 37% above VT |
| Goshen and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
10.6%±11.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
37.3%±11.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Goshen and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
42.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
0%±10Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$56,250±$33kLowest 31% 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 | $227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$330,000±$115kHighest 4% above VT |
| Goshen and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
— |
| Castleton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241 16% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$5,240Highest 4% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest 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 | 14.2% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
100%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±9.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #69 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
— | 10.0Highest |
— |
| 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.