Compare towns
Castleton vs Cabot vs Arlington 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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
Cabot has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Cabot | Arlington | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
1,579Lowest |
2,598 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.7% VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
40.3±6.6Highest 6% below VT |
37.6±4 13% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Cabot and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
27.2%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Cabot and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
21%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Cabot and Castleton 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% |
44.7% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$77,031±$16k 5% below VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Arlington and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$268,500±$77k 15% below VT |
$318,500±$59kHighest about the VT average |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Arlington and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,243±$354Highest about the VT average |
$1,191±$172 3% below VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| Cabot and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,639 8% below VT |
$4,549 10% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±26.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington 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% |
9% VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
84%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
30 minHighest 27% above VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Cabot 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 | — | #50 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Arlington School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Arlington Memorial | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| 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.