Compare towns
Castleton vs Andover vs Wheelock vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Wheelock has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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 | Castleton | Andover | Wheelock | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
616Lowest |
717 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
— | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Wheelock and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
43.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
| Andover and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
— | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| Andover and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167 37% below VT |
$5,190Highest about the VT average |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Wheelock 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 | 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.