Compare towns

Castleton vs Hampton vs Northfield vs Putney

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).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).

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.

MeasureCastletonHamptonNorthfieldPutney
People
Population
4,453
1,145Lowest
5,920Highest
2,622
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-8.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%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.
37.2±5.2
4% below U.S.
Hampton and Castleton 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%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.1
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%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
20%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Castleton and Hampton 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%
34.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
15.1%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.
$79,706±$18kHighest
about the U.S. average
Putney 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±$21k
18% below U.S.
$300,000±$44kHighest
10% below U.S.
Putney 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
20% below U.S.
$1,264±$375Highest
11% below U.S.
$1,018±$207
28% below U.S.
$508±$482Lowest
64% 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.
$4,878
56% above U.S.
$5,313Highest
70% 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%
54.2%±19.4
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
27% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
27 minHighest
3% above U.S.
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.8%±8.4
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±4.3
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Putney 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 #32 of 70 in VT
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 — Paine Mountain Union School District #68 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town None in town — Northfield Middle/High School None in town
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.