Compare towns

Castleton vs Rumney 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).
Rumney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.2%).
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.

MeasureCastletonRumneyNorthfield
People
Population
4,453
1,458Lowest
5,920Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3
about the U.S. average
44.5±2.3Highest
14% above U.S.
36.4±4.1Lowest
6% below U.S.
Rumney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.8%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Castleton and Rumney 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%
24.1%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Rumney 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%
41.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
15.1%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
$79,444±$21kHighest
about the U.S. average
$71,768±$13kLowest
11% below U.S.
Rumney 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
32% below U.S.
$309,800±$37kHighest
7% below U.S.
$274,400±$21k
18% below U.S.
Rumney 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.
$1,064±$100
25% below U.S.
$1,018±$207Lowest
28% below U.S.
Castleton and Rumney 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
$4,716
51% above U.S.
$4,878Highest
56% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.1%±21.3Lowest
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%
10.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
33 minHighest
24% above U.S.
27 min
3% above U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.4%±7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±4.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Rumney 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 Rumney School District 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

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.