Compare towns
Castleton vs Hampton Beach vs Kingston 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 most kids (18.8% under 18).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Kingston has the highest household income ($105k).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Hampton Beach | Kingston | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
2,605Lowest |
6,275Highest |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
55.5±5.7 43% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Kingston 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% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Northfield 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% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$82,557±$17k about the U.S. average |
$105,330±$12kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Kingston and Hampton Beach 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. |
$508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$492,900±$58k 48% above U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,393±$156Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Kingston and Hampton Beach 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 |
$6,115 96% above U.S. |
$7,906Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7 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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #78 of 120 in NH | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Sanborn Regional School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Sanborn Regional High School | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.9Highest |
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.