Compare towns

Epping 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

Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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.

MeasureEppingCastletonNorthfield
People
Population
7,430Highest
4,453Lowest
5,920
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.1±3.5Highest
16% above U.S.
38.3±4.3
about the U.S. average
36.4±4.1Lowest
6% below U.S.
Epping and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.7%±4.8
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Castleton and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
20%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Epping 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
15.1%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$104,220±$7kHighest
29% above U.S.
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
$71,768±$13kLowest
11% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$436,900±$35kHighest
31% above U.S.
$224,800±$71kLowest
32% below U.S.
$274,400±$21k
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,742±$576Highest
23% above U.S.
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
$1,018±$207Lowest
28% below U.S.
Epping and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,936Highest
122% above U.S.
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$4,878
56% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.8%±25.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
67.7%±21.9
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±17.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Epping and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
22% above U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
27 min
3% above U.S.
Work from home
24%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±4.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #77 of 120 in NH #39 of 70 in VT #42 of 70 in VT
School district Epping School District Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Paine Mountain Union School District #68
High school in town Epping High School None in town Northfield Middle/High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.3Lowest
—
10.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.