Compare towns
Castleton vs Northfield vs Sunapee
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 most kids (18.8% under 18).
Northfield has the most people working from home (12.1%).
Sunapee has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
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 | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453 |
5,920Highest |
3,416Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest 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% |
4.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$101,393±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Sunapee 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. |
$393,000±$51kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northfield and Sunapee 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 | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0Lowest |
11.9Highest |
| 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.