Compare towns

Castleton vs Jasper 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).
Jasper has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
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.

MeasureCastletonJasperNorthfield
People
Population
4,453
1,308Lowest
5,920Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3Highest
about the U.S. average
37.3±7.4
4% below U.S.
36.4±4.1Lowest
6% below U.S.
Castleton and Jasper 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%
33.6%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
20.7%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Castleton and Northfield 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%
25.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.2%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
15.1%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
$80,588±$7kHighest
about the U.S. average
$71,768±$13kLowest
11% below U.S.
Jasper 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.
$123,600±$13kLowest
63% below U.S.
$274,400±$21kHighest
18% 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±$195Highest
20% below U.S.
$658±$149Lowest
53% below U.S.
$1,018±$207
28% below U.S.
Castleton and Northfield 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
$2,250Lowest
28% below U.S.
$4,878Highest
56% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
35.7%±54.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±17.7
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%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1962
18 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
24 min
8% below U.S.
27 minHighest
3% above U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.2%±7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±4.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Jasper 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
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 — Paine Mountain Union School District #68
High school in town None in town — Northfield Middle/High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.0
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.