Compare towns
Castleton vs Northfield vs Stockbridge
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 most kids (18.8% under 18).
Northfield has the most renters (26.5% rent).
Stockbridge has the most people working from home (28.6%).
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.
| Measure | Castleton | Northfield | Stockbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453 |
5,920Highest |
791Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-2.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
55.3±5.3Highest 28% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
9.9%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Northfield 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% |
27.9%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Stockbridge 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 VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$77,109±$12kHighest 5% below VT |
| Stockbridge 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 29% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$283,500±$26kHighest 10% below VT |
| Stockbridge 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 |
$1,140±$126Highest 8% below VT |
| Stockbridge 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 |
$4,488 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
53.3%±22Lowest 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% |
3.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
28.6%±12.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| 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 |
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.