Compare towns
Castleton vs Strafford vs Andover 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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Strafford | Andover | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
1,372 |
616Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Strafford and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Andover and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$102,500±$38k 26% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Strafford and Andover 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$382,900±$68k 21% above VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Strafford and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| Andover 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,190 about the VT average |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Strafford 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 | Strafford 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 | 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.