Compare towns
Castleton vs Lenox vs Ira 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).
Lenox has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Northfield has the most people working from home (12.1%).
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 | Lenox | Ira | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
8,658Highest |
381Lowest |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
45.1±2 16% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Lenox 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$75,900±$8kHighest 6% below U.S. |
$71,827±$5k 11% below U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Lenox 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. |
$161,600±$9kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Northfield and Ira 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. |
$935±$83Lowest 34% below U.S. |
$942±$52 33% 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 | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,184 34% above U.S. |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
$4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±9.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northfield and Lenox 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 | #412 of 484 in NY | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | ONEIDA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT · CANASTOTA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | CANASTOTA HIGH SCHOOL | — | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6Highest |
— | 10.0Lowest |
| 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.