Compare towns
Castleton vs Mendon vs Wardsboro 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 affordable homes ($225k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Mendon | Wardsboro | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
1,113 |
820Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Mendon and Wardsboro 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% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and Wardsboro 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% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest 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 |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
| Mendon 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±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Mendon and Wardsboro 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±$651 about the VT average |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| Wardsboro and Mendon 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 |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$4,345 14% below 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% |
54.5%±58Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Wardsboro 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 | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school 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 | 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.