Compare towns

Castleton vs Cumberland 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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Cumberland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.5%).
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.

MeasureCastletonCumberlandNorthfield
People
Population
4,453Lowest
8,647Highest
5,920
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+17.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3
about the U.S. average
41.9±4Highest
8% above U.S.
36.4±4.1Lowest
6% below U.S.
Cumberland 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
U.S.: 22%
25.6%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Cumberland and Castleton 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%
19.8%±2.9Lowest
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%
72.5%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%
3.9%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
15.1%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
$173,894±$20kHighest
115% above U.S.
$71,768±$13kLowest
11% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$224,800±$71kLowest
32% below U.S.
$616,800±$42kHighest
85% above U.S.
$274,400±$21k
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
$2,143±$759Highest
52% above U.S.
$1,018±$207Lowest
28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$7,116Highest
128% above U.S.
$4,878
56% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.1%±31.3Lowest
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%
3.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
24 min
8% below U.S.
27 minHighest
3% above U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.3%±7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±4.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #39 of 70 in VT #25 of 133 in ME #42 of 70 in VT
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 RSU 51/MSAD 51 Paine Mountain Union School District #68
High school in town None in town Greely High School Northfield Middle/High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.5Lowest
10.0Highest
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.