Compare towns
Castleton vs Hardwick vs Whitingham 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).
Whitingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Whitingham | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
2,965 |
1,368Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
-1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Hardwick and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Whitingham 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 VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and Hardwick 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% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest 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 |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
| Hardwick 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 29% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
| Northfield and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$875±$406 29% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
| Castleton and Northfield 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 |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 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% |
85.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1962 14 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hazen Union High School | Twin Valley Middle High School | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
7.8Lowest |
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.