Compare towns
Castleton vs Epping vs Plainfield 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).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
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 | Epping | Plainfield | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
7,430Highest |
1,314Lowest |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%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 |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Epping 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Plainfield 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% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$71,768±$13k 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Epping and Plainfield 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 |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Epping 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Plainfield 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Epping School District | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | — | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
— | 10.0Highest |
| 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.