Compare towns
Castleton vs Ludlow vs North Bennington 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 most kids (18.8% under 18).
Ludlow has the most renters (48.6% rent).
North Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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 | Ludlow | North Bennington | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
808Lowest |
1,336 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+4.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
48.7±5.6Highest 13% above VT |
43.9±10 about the VT average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Ludlow and North Bennington 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% |
13.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Northfield 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% |
30.4%±0.5 VT: 21.4% |
31.9%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| North Bennington and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
41.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
21.6%±6.5Highest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| North Bennington and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$56,667±$19kLowest 30% below VT |
$68,571±$10k 16% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$304,000±$32k 4% below VT |
$313,000±$40kHighest about the VT average |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| North Bennington and Ludlow 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 |
$1,018±$91Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,447±$278Highest 17% above VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| North Bennington 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 |
$4,237 16% below VT |
$5,590Highest 11% above VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
33%±13.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.7%±26.9 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
61.4% VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1957 19 yrs older than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±7.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | 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.