Compare towns
Castleton vs Dover vs Nanticoke 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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Nanticoke has the most kids (25.6% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Castleton | Dover | Nanticoke | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
1,466Lowest |
1,683 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
53.5±8.3Highest 38% above U.S. |
41.5±6.4 7% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Dover and Nanticoke 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.6%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Nanticoke and Castleton 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% |
29.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dover and Nanticoke 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% |
48.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$69,432±$13k 14% 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. |
$332,900±$55kHighest about the U.S. average |
$157,100±$32kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
| Dover and Northfield 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. |
$670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$941±$314 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 | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,510 45% above U.S. |
$3,171 about the U.S. average |
$4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±37.8 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77% 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. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±11.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover 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 | — | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.