Compare towns
Castleton vs Middlebury vs Jericho 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).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Jericho has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | Middlebury | Jericho | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Lowest |
9,175Highest |
5,114 |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
49.7±5.1Highest 15% above VT |
36.4±4.1 16% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Jericho and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$86,169±$16k 6% above VT |
$116,923±$16kHighest 44% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Jericho 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 |
$409,700±$30k 29% above VT |
$493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,156±$113 6% below VT |
$1,731±$111Highest 40% above VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,868 36% above VT |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho 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% |
10.7% VT: 10.1% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Jericho 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 | #6 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 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | Middlebury Union High School | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
13.0Highest |
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.