Compare towns
Castleton vs Northfield vs Ripton vs Wheelock
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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
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 | Ripton | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
5,920Highest |
508Lowest |
717 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
| Wheelock and Ripton 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%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wheelock 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ripton 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 VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
— | — |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167 37% below VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 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 |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock and Ripton 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| 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.