Compare towns
Castleton vs Northfield vs Waitsfield vs Windsor
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 youngest population (median age 36.4).
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
Windsor has the most renters (42.2% rent).
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 | Waitsfield | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
5,920Highest |
1,918Lowest |
3,554 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
44.8±6.5Highest 4% above VT |
| Windsor and Waitsfield 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% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield and Windsor 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% |
28.2%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor and Waitsfield 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% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$84,375±$34kHighest 4% above VT |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
| Waitsfield 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±$71k 29% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT |
$207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,200±$821Highest about the VT average |
$1,026±$89 17% below VT |
| Waitsfield 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 |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$6,208Highest 23% above VT |
$5,209 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17Lowest 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% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
23 min 3% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Waitsfield 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 | — | #61 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | — |
| 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 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.