Compare towns
Castleton vs Williamstown vs Northfield vs Ira
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).
Williamstown has the highest household income ($94k).
Northfield has the most renters (26.5% rent).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Williamstown | Northfield | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
3,579 |
5,920Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
42±5 about the VT average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown 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% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
| Williamstown 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 |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Northfield and Ira 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 |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown 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% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williamstown 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 | #47 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | Northfield Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
10.0Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.