Compare towns
Castleton vs Madison vs New Hampton 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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
Madison has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
New Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Northfield has the most renters (26.5% rent).
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 | Madison | New Hampton | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
2,680 |
2,509Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
50.3±9.7 29% above U.S. |
51.7±2.7Highest 33% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| New Hampton and Madison 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% |
23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Madison 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% |
23.1%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| New Hampton and Madison 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% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$102,697±$11kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$95,250±$35k 18% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Madison and New Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$388,700±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$383,700±$37k 15% above U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
| Madison and New Hampton 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. |
$1,556±$256Highest 10% above U.S. |
$749±$433Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207 28% below U.S. |
| Madison 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 |
$4,074 31% above U.S. |
$4,973Highest 59% above U.S. |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
21.3%±21.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Madison 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northfield and New Hampton 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 | Madison School District | Newfound Area School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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 | 7 photos → | 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.