Compare towns
Bristol 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
Bristol has the most people working from home (17.9%).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
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 | Bristol | Castleton | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778Lowest |
4,453 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bristol and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,620±$8kHighest 8% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Bristol and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $337,300±$46kHighest 7% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Bristol and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| Bristol and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,978Highest 19% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4Lowest 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 | 10.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Bristol and Northfield 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 | #31 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.