Compare towns

Castleton vs Hampton vs Cabot 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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Cabot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
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.

MeasureCastletonHamptonCabotNorthfield
People
Population
4,453
1,145Lowest
1,579
5,920Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-8.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3
about the U.S. average
43.1±14.7Highest
11% above U.S.
40.3±6.6
4% above U.S.
36.4±4.1Lowest
6% below U.S.
Hampton and Cabot 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%
15.9%±6.9
U.S.: 22%
27.2%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Cabot and Castleton 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%
20.6%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Cabot and Castleton 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%
15.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
15.1%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
$73,796±$8k
9% below U.S.
$77,031±$16kHighest
5% below U.S.
$71,768±$13kLowest
11% below U.S.
Cabot 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±$71k
32% below U.S.
$166,800±$10kLowest
50% below U.S.
$268,500±$77k
19% below U.S.
$274,400±$21kHighest
18% below U.S.
Northfield and Cabot 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.
$1,264±$375Highest
11% below U.S.
$1,243±$354
12% below U.S.
$1,018±$207Lowest
28% below U.S.
Hampton and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,167
about the U.S. average
$3,007Lowest
4% below U.S.
$4,639
49% above U.S.
$4,878Highest
56% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
13.2%±25.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±26.7
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
16.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
83.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
30 minHighest
13% above U.S.
27 min
3% above U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.8%±8.4
U.S.: 15.1%
21.4%±4.2Highest
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 — — #42 of 70 in VT
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 — — Paine Mountain Union School District #68
High school in town None in town — — Northfield Middle/High School
Students per teacherat that high school — — —
10.0
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.