Compare towns
Castleton vs Northfield vs Plainfield vs Sutton
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Northfield has the most renters (26.5% rent).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (85%).
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 | Northfield | Plainfield | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
5,920Highest |
1,314 |
790Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
| Plainfield and Sutton 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%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Sutton 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% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Sutton and Plainfield 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% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
| Castleton and Northfield 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 |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
| Plainfield and Northfield 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 |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
— |
| Plainfield and Castleton 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 |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| 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 | 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.