Compare towns
Castleton vs Hardwick vs Wells vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Hardwick has the highest household income ($92k).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Northfield has the most expensive homes ($274k median).
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 | Hardwick | Wells | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
2,965 |
1,148Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Wells and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Wells 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 VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Hardwick and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
| Northfield and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
| Wells and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,351 14% below VT |
$3,308 34% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
76.4% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1962 14 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Northfield and Hardwick 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 | #68 of 70 in VT | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hazen Union High School | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6Lowest |
— | 10.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.