Compare towns
Castleton vs Hampton vs Mendon 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 has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Hampton | Mendon | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
1,145 |
1,113Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Hampton 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% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Hampton 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% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%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% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest 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. |
$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Mendon 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. |
$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Mendon 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. |
$5,342Highest 71% above U.S. |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Castleton 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% |
8.2%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% |
92.2%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 min 27% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon 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 | — | — | #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.