Compare towns
Northfield vs Berlin vs Castleton vs St. Albans
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 most renters (26.5% rent).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
St. Albans has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.5%).
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 | Berlin | Castleton | St. Albans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920 |
2,880Lowest |
4,453 |
7,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
41.3±2.8 4% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
20%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| St. Albans and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.8%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
8.1%±4.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$90,060±$19kHighest 11% above VT |
| St. Albans and Berlin 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 |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$363,300±$22kHighest 15% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,460±$152Highest 18% above VT |
| St. Albans and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,689 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
73.6%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| St. Albans and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
79.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.7%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Northfield and Berlin 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | #46 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
— | — | — |
| 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.