Compare towns

Castleton vs Concord 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 affordable homes ($225k median).
Concord has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3%).
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.

MeasureCastletonConcordNorthfield
People
Population
4,453Lowest
44,375Highest
5,920
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3
about the U.S. average
40.7±1.3Highest
5% above U.S.
36.4±4.1Lowest
6% below U.S.
Concord 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%
17.2%±1.3
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Castleton and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.7%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.7%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
42.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
15.1%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
$84,902±$5kHighest
5% above U.S.
$71,768±$13kLowest
11% below U.S.
Concord 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
32% below U.S.
$350,900±$13kHighest
5% above U.S.
$274,400±$21k
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
$1,441±$43Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,018±$207Lowest
28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$7,227Highest
132% above U.S.
$4,878
56% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±17.7
U.S.: 51.1%
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
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
56.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1969
11 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
23 min
13% below U.S.
27 minHighest
3% above U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.1%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±4.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Concord 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 #39 of 70 in VT #89 of 120 in NH #42 of 70 in VT
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District Paine Mountain Union School District #68
High school in town None in town Concord High School Northfield Middle/High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.0Highest
10.0Lowest
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.