Compare towns
Castleton vs Mendon vs Middlebury 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).
Mendon has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
Middlebury has the most expensive homes ($410k median).
Northfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mendon | Middlebury | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
1,113Lowest |
9,175Highest |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.7% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
36.4±4.1 16% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Mendon 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% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$86,169±$16k 6% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Mendon and Middlebury 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 |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Middlebury and Mendon 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 |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,156±$113 6% below VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| Mendon and Middlebury 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 |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Castleton 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% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.7% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
17 min 28% below VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Middlebury 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 | — | #17 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Middlebury Union High School | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| 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.