Compare towns
Castleton vs Gorham vs Northfield vs Hyde Park
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).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Northfield has the most renters (26.5% rent).
Hyde Park has the most affordable homes ($198k 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 | Gorham | Northfield | Hyde Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
18,300Highest |
5,920 |
3,000Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
41.6±3.9Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Hyde Park and Gorham 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% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Hyde Park 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% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±4.1 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$84,375±$9k 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
$198,400±$39kLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,018±$207 28% below U.S. |
$1,007±$340Lowest 29% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Castleton 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 |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
$3,883 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.6 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.2%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gorham 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | #42 of 70 in VT | #59 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Gorham Public Schools | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058B · Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Northfield Middle/High School | Lamoille Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
10.0Lowest |
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.