Compare towns
Durham vs Castleton vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Northfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Castleton | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
4,453Lowest |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
38.3±4.3Highest about the U.S. average |
36.4±4.1 6% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Durham and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #39 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.