Compare towns

Castleton vs Castle Hill vs Northfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Castle Hill has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Northfield has the most expensive homes ($274k 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.

MeasureCastletonCastle HillNorthfield
People
Population
4,453
281Lowest
5,920Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-4.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3
about the U.S. average
57.8±15.8Highest
49% above U.S.
36.4±4.1Lowest
6% below U.S.
Castle Hill and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.8%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.2%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.7%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
44.8%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
26.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
15.1%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23kHighest
9% below U.S.
$54,250±$14kLowest
33% below U.S.
$71,768±$13k
11% below U.S.
Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$224,800±$71k
32% below U.S.
$145,300±$18kLowest
56% below U.S.
$274,400±$21kHighest
18% below U.S.
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
20% below U.S.
$950±$574Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,018±$207
28% below U.S.
Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,167
about the U.S. average
$1,449Lowest
54% below U.S.
$4,878Highest
56% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9
U.S.: 51.1%
75%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±17.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Castle Hill 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
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
27% below U.S.
19 minLowest
29% below U.S.
27 minHighest
3% above U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.3%±9.8
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Northfield and Castle Hill 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

U.S. 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.