Compare towns
Castleton vs Fairfax vs Jericho vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Jericho has the most expensive homes ($493k median).
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 | Fairfax | Jericho | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Lowest |
5,226 |
5,114 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
49.7±5.1Highest 15% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
49.5% VT: 43.8% |
65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$116,923±$16k 44% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Fairfax and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$378,200±$22k 19% above VT |
$493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,080±$131 12% below VT |
$1,731±$111Highest 40% above VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,497 9% above VT |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho 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 VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
85.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax and Jericho 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 | #36 of 70 in VT | #6 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Fairfax School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
13.0Highest |
10.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.