Compare towns
Northfield vs Castleton vs Morristown
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 people working from home (12.1%).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Morristown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
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 | Morristown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
4,453Lowest |
5,722 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
47.8±4.6Highest 11% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Northfield 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%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Morristown 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% |
40.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.6%±2.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$66,273±$5kLowest 18% 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±$21k 13% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$298,600±$48kHighest 6% below VT |
| Morristown and Northfield 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±$195 8% below VT |
$1,214±$123Highest about the VT average |
| Morristown and Castleton 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,838 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±12.7Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Northfield and Morristown 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 | #35 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | Peoples Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
— | 12.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.