Compare towns
Castleton vs Rochester vs Stratton 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).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Northfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
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 | Rochester | Stratton | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
1,389 |
532Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
36.4±4.1 16% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton 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 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Stratton 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±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
| Stratton and Castleton 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 |
$3,977 21% below VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester 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 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school 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 | 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.