Compare towns
Castleton vs Putney vs Chesterfield 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).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Chesterfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.4%).
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 | Putney | Chesterfield | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
2,622Lowest |
3,622 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
37.2±5.2 4% below U.S. |
46.8±8.7Highest 20% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Chesterfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Chesterfield and Castleton 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±7.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chesterfield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putney and Castleton 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 U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$102,370±$40kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Chesterfield and Putney 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. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$373,500±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
| Chesterfield and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,324±$1kHighest 6% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207 28% below U.S. |
| Chesterfield and Castleton 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 |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$6,344Highest 103% above U.S. |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chesterfield and Castleton 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% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chesterfield and Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #52 of 120 in NH | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Chesterfield School District | 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 | 6 photos → | 6 photos → | 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.