Compare towns
Castleton vs East Machias vs Mapleton 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
East Machias has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Northfield has the most expensive homes ($274k median).
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 | East Machias | Mapleton | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
1,223Lowest |
1,884 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
42.8±2.9Highest 10% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| East Machias and Mapleton 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% |
23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| East Machias and Mapleton 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% |
19.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$57,589±$10kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13k 11% below U.S. |
| Mapleton 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±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$210,800±$23k 37% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Northfield and Castleton 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. |
$907±$566 36% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% 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 | $3,167 about the U.S. average |
$1,836 41% below U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±40.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest 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% |
15.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northfield and Mapleton 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 | East Machias Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None 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.