Compare towns
Northfield vs Castleton vs Brattleboro
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 expensive homes ($274k median).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Brattleboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
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 | Northfield | Castleton | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920 |
4,453Lowest |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
45.6±4.5Highest 6% above VT |
| Brattleboro and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brattleboro 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% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Brattleboro 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% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$257,300±$18k 19% below VT |
| Northfield and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,074±$58 13% below VT |
| Castleton and Brattleboro 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,700Highest 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 20 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brattleboro 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.