Compare towns
Castleton vs Nanticoke vs Putney 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 homeowners (79%).
Nanticoke has the most kids (25.6% under 18).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Nanticoke | Putney | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
1,683Lowest |
2,622 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
41.5±6.4Highest 7% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2 4% below U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Nanticoke and Castleton 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% |
25.6%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nanticoke 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% |
22.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nanticoke and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$69,432±$13kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the U.S. average |
$71,768±$13k 11% below U.S. |
| Putney 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. |
$157,100±$32kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
| Putney and Northfield 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. |
$941±$314 33% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207 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 |
$3,171 about the U.S. average |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±37.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney and Northfield 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.