Compare towns
Castleton vs Ripton vs Moriah 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 kids (18.8% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Moriah has the most affordable homes ($138k median).
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 | Ripton | Moriah | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
508Lowest |
4,483 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
56.7±3Highest 46% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Moriah and Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Moriah 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% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Moriah and Ripton 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ripton 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. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$63,113±$6kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$71,768±$13k 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$138,200±$9kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
— | $832±$165Lowest 41% 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 | $3,167 about the U.S. average |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$2,644Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±25.4Lowest 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% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #380 of 484 in NY | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | MORIAH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | MORIAH JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.6Lowest |
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.