Compare towns
Castleton vs Proctor vs Wolcott 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).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Wolcott has the most people working from home (13.9%).
Northfield has the most expensive homes ($274k median).
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 | Proctor | Wolcott | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
1,794 |
1,507Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
42.4±6.4Highest about the VT average |
42.4±5.9Highest about the VT average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.8%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Wolcott and Proctor 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% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor 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% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
31.1% VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$74,167±$12kHighest 9% below VT |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
| Proctor 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 |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
| Northfield and Castleton 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 |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$1,059±$118 14% below VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| Castleton and Wolcott 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 |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$3,930 22% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.5% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Wolcott 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 |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Wolcott School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
— | 10.0Highest |
| 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.