Compare towns

Castleton vs Dummerston vs Northfield vs Sutton

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).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Northfield has the most renters (26.5% rent).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).

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.

MeasureCastletonDummerstonNorthfieldSutton
People
Population
4,453
2,090Lowest
5,920Highest
2,239
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3
about the U.S. average
45.6±11.7
17% above U.S.
36.4±4.1Lowest
6% below U.S.
48.1±4.1Highest
24% above U.S.
Sutton and Dummerston 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%
21.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±3.8
U.S.: 22%
Dummerston and Sutton 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%
24.3%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±5.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Dummerston and Sutton 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%
58.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
15.1%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±3.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
$101,696±$21k
26% above U.S.
$71,768±$13kLowest
11% below U.S.
$130,313±$31kHighest
61% above U.S.
Sutton and Dummerston 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.
$335,300±$22k
about the U.S. average
$274,400±$21k
18% below U.S.
$362,600±$16kHighest
9% above U.S.
Sutton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
$1,392±$126
about the U.S. average
$1,018±$207Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,656±$614Highest
17% above U.S.
Sutton and Dummerston 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
$4,536
45% above U.S.
$4,878
56% above U.S.
$7,652Highest
145% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±17.7
U.S.: 51.1%
27.6%±47.2Lowest
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%
4.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
21 min
21% below U.S.
27 min
3% above U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±4.3
U.S.: 15.1%
14.8%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Dummerston and Sutton 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 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Paine Mountain Union School District #68 Kearsarge Regional School District
High school in town None in town None in town Northfield Middle/High School Kearsarge Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.0Lowest
10.4Highest
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.