Compare towns
Castleton vs Putnam vs Springfield 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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Putnam has the highest household income ($92k).
Springfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.3%).
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 | Putnam | Springfield | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
540Lowest |
9,084Highest |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3%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. |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Springfield 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% |
23.6%±3.7 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% |
23.3%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% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest 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. |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$71,768±$13k 11% below U.S. |
| Putnam 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 32% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Northfield and Putnam 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. |
— | $963±$100Lowest 32% 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. |
$4,807 54% 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% |
49.6%±15.6 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than 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. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Springfield 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Springfield High School | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| 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.