Compare towns
Castleton vs Putnam vs Highgate vs Northfield
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 affordable homes ($225k median).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
Northfield has the most renters (26.5% 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 | Putnam | Highgate | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
540Lowest |
3,528 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Putnam 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% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Highgate 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. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
| Highgate and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
— | $895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207 28% below U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
$3,558 14% above U.S. |
$4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7 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% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Highgate 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8Lowest |
10.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.