Compare towns
Castleton vs Jackson vs Salem 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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Jackson has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
Salem has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Jackson | Salem | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
1,695Lowest |
2,611 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
56.9±3.6Highest 46% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Salem 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% |
33.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson and Salem 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% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$77,375±$8k 4% below U.S. |
$83,398±$12kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Salem and Jackson 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. |
$235,400±$40k 29% below U.S. |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Northfield and Jackson 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. |
$1,139±$43Highest 19% below U.S. |
$948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207 28% below U.S. |
| Jackson and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,165 34% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
$4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
77.8%±44.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jackson 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% |
7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem 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 | — | #376 of 484 in NY | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.5Lowest |
10.0Highest |
| 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.