Compare towns
Castleton vs Northfield vs Proctor vs Vernon
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 people working from home (12.1%).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Vernon has the highest household income ($86k).
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 | Proctor | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
5,920Highest |
1,794Lowest |
2,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
42.6±5.4Highest about the VT average |
| Vernon and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor 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 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Vernon and Proctor 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 VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
26.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
| Vernon and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
| Vernon 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 8% below VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$1,023±$214 17% below VT |
| Castleton and Proctor 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 |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Northfield and Proctor 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 | — | #30 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Vernon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0Highest |
8.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.