Compare towns
Castleton vs Chester vs Windham 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).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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 | Chester | Windham | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
2,992 |
594Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Chester and Windham 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% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Windham 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% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Windham 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% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
| Windham 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±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
— | $1,018±$207 18% below VT |
| Castleton and Northfield 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 |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 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 | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Chester 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | — | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
— | 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.