Compare towns
Castleton vs Poultney vs Ripton 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).
Poultney has the most renters (43.3% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Poultney | Ripton | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
1,033 |
508Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
28.2±4.5Lowest 35% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
36.4±4.1 16% below VT |
| Ripton and Castleton 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% |
16.8%±5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Poultney 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% |
21.1%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Poultney 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% |
38.4% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Poultney and Ripton 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 |
$70,536±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$196,600±$43kLowest 38% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$868±$113Lowest 30% below VT |
— | $1,018±$207 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 | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,450 32% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
23.2%±12.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 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% |
11.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton 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 | #41 of 70 in VT | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school 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.