Compare towns

Castleton vs Northfield vs Ossipee

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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Northfield has the most people working from home (12.1%).
Ossipee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).

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.

MeasureCastletonNorthfieldOssipee
People
Population
4,453Lowest
5,920Highest
4,521
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3
about the U.S. average
36.4±4.1Lowest
6% below U.S.
50±4.6Highest
29% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18.8%±6.4
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.5%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Ossipee 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%
20%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.3%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ossipee 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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
24.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
15.1%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
$71,768±$13kLowest
11% below U.S.
$90,521±$22kHighest
12% above U.S.
Ossipee 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
32% below U.S.
$274,400±$21k
18% below U.S.
$325,500±$23kHighest
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
$1,018±$207Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,601±$245Highest
13% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$4,878Highest
56% above U.S.
$4,401
41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±17.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
72%±16.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ossipee 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
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
27 min
3% above U.S.
33 minHighest
27% above U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.3%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Northfield and Castleton 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 #100 of 120 in NH
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Paine Mountain Union School District #68 Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town None in town Northfield Middle/High School None in town
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.