Compare towns

Castleton vs Mansfield 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 kids (18.8% under 18).
Mansfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
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.

MeasureCastletonMansfieldNorthfield
People
Population
4,453
691Lowest
5,920Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3
about the U.S. average
54±5.5Highest
39% above U.S.
36.4±4.1Lowest
6% below U.S.
Kids under 18
18.8%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±4.5
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Castleton and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.7%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.3Lowest
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%
22.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
15.1%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
$83,304±$14kHighest
3% above U.S.
$71,768±$13kLowest
11% below U.S.
Mansfield 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.
$200,000±$29kLowest
40% 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.
—
$1,018±$207Lowest
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
$4,122
32% above U.S.
$4,878Highest
56% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±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%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
96.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
26 min
3% below U.S.
27 minHighest
3% above U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±12.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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.