Compare towns
Castleton vs Peacham vs Burke vs Northfield
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).
Peacham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.3%).
Burke has the most expensive homes ($341k median).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Peacham | Burke | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
887Lowest |
1,317 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-2.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
50.1±5.7Highest 16% above VT |
41.1±4.8 5% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Peacham and Burke 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% |
20.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
23%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Burke and Peacham 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% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.4% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.4%±4 VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$90,000±$28kHighest 11% above VT |
$87,143±$17k 7% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Peacham and Burke 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 |
$302,000±$64k 5% below VT |
$340,600±$18kHighest 8% above VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Burke and Peacham 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 |
$1,028±$248 17% below VT |
$938±$191Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
| Castleton and Peacham 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 |
$5,605Highest 11% above VT |
$5,177 about the VT average |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
74.6%±31Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Burke and Castleton 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% |
10.6% VT: 10.1% |
10%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
76.1% VT: 73.2% |
88.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±6.8 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Peacham and Burke 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 | Peacham School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| 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.