Compare towns
Castleton vs Topsham vs Walden 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).
Topsham has the oldest population (median age 50.1).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
Northfield has the most expensive homes ($274k median).
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 | Topsham | Walden | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
999Lowest |
1,037 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
50.1±5.9Highest 16% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Topsham and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Topsham 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% |
23.2%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Topsham 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$72,308±$60k 11% below VT |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Walden 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±$71k 29% below VT |
$222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
| Northfield and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$908±$398 26% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
| Castleton and Northfield 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 |
$4,006 21% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Castleton 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% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Topsham 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 | Waits River Union High District #36 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | 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 | 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.