Compare towns
Northfield vs Barre vs Castleton vs Waitsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
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 | Northfield | Barre | Castleton | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920 |
8,412Highest |
4,453 |
1,918Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
44.3±5.3Highest about the VT average |
| Waitsfield and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$84,375±$34kHighest 4% above VT |
| Waitsfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,200±$821Highest about the VT average |
| Waitsfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878 3% below VT |
$5,192 3% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,208Highest 23% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6 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% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 20 yrs older than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waitsfield 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | #19 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | Spaulding Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
10.7Highest |
— | — |
| 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.