Compare towns
Castleton vs Durham vs Westminster 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).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Northfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Westminster | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
15,080Highest |
2,999Lowest |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1 6% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Westminster 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Castleton 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% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$71,768±$13k 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207 28% below U.S. |
| Durham and Castleton 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,063 30% above U.S. |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Durham 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% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr 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. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #53 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Oyster River Coop School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Bellows Falls Union High School | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
10.6 |
10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.