Compare towns
Castleton vs Gardner vs Northfield vs Ira
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).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Gardner | Northfield | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
21,148Highest |
5,920 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Gardner 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% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$71,768±$13k 11% below U.S. |
$71,827±$5k 11% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Ira 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. |
$301,600±$20kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
| Gardner and Northfield 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. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207 28% below U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Gardner 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 |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardner 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Gardner | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | Northfield Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
10.0Lowest |
— |
| 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.