Compare towns
Castleton vs Walden vs Strafford 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).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
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 | Walden | Strafford | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
1,037Lowest |
1,372 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Strafford and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest 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% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford 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% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Strafford and Walden 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 |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
| Castleton and Strafford 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 |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest 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% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Walden 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Strafford School District | 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.