Compare towns
Castleton vs White River Junction vs Roxbury 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).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Roxbury has the most kids (30.6% under 18).
Northfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
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 | White River Junction | Roxbury | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
3,364 |
942Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Highest 11% below VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
35.6±11.7 17% below VT |
36.4±4.1 16% below VT |
| Castleton and Northfield 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% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
30.6%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
18.7%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton and Northfield 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% |
38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$77,168±$4kHighest 5% below VT |
$73,214±$22k 10% below VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| White River Junction 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 29% below VT |
$278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT |
$242,600±$55k 23% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| White River Junction and Northfield 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 |
$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
$950±$495Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
| White River Junction 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 |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$4,284 15% below VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
16.7%±100Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
27.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1963 13 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| White River Junction 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 | — | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school 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.