Compare towns
Castleton vs Halifax vs Tunbridge 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).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Tunbridge has the highest household income ($89k).
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 | Halifax | Tunbridge | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
847Lowest |
1,253 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
40.6±13.1 6% below VT |
42.7±8.3Highest about the VT average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Tunbridge and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.9%±1.6 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Halifax and Tunbridge 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% |
44.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
42.9% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$89,464±$26kHighest 10% above VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
| Tunbridge and Castleton 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 |
$267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
$315,300±$23kHighest about the VT average |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Tunbridge and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,346±$128Highest 9% above VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
| Tunbridge and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,991Highest about the VT average |
$4,645 8% below VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.2% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Tunbridge 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 | — | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Halifax School District | First Branch Unified School District #82 | 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 Our Story | 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.