Compare towns
Castleton vs Troy vs Williston 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).
Troy has the most homeowners (86.6%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Troy | Williston | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
1,749Lowest |
10,144Highest |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Williston and Troy 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% |
21.4%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Troy and Williston 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% |
17.7%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Williston 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% VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$87,938±$11k 8% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Williston and Troy 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 |
$233,200±$21k 26% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,644 28% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
20 min 16% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Troy School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.