Compare towns
Castleton vs Hampton vs Northfield vs Proctor
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).
Northfield has the most people working from home (12.1%).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
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 | Northfield | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
1,145Lowest |
5,920Highest |
1,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
43.1±14.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
42.4±6.4 9% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Proctor 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% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Proctor 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% |
20%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Proctor 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$74,167±$12kHighest 8% below U.S. |
| Proctor 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. |
$274,400±$21kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$209,900±$17k 37% below U.S. |
| Northfield and Castleton 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. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,029±$202 27% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Castleton 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. |
$4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
$4,032 29% 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% |
63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±16.2 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs 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. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northfield and Proctor 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 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Northfield Middle/High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| 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.