Compare towns
Castleton vs Effingham vs Ossipee 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).
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
Ossipee has the highest household income ($91k).
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.
| Measure | Castleton | Effingham | Ossipee | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
1,912Lowest |
4,521 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
46.9±12.4 21% above U.S. |
50±4.6Highest 29% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Ossipee and Effingham 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% |
19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ossipee 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$76,607±$14k 5% below U.S. |
$90,521±$22kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Ossipee and Effingham 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. |
$322,700±$30k 3% below U.S. |
$325,500±$23kHighest about the U.S. average |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
| Ossipee and Effingham 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. |
$1,090±$121 23% below U.S. |
$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,401 41% above U.S. |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.6%±40.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee and Castleton 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% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
32 min 19% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Effingham 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 | — | #100 of 120 in NH | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | 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.