Compare towns
Northfield vs Castleton vs Roxbury
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Roxbury has the most kids (30.6% under 18).
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 | Roxbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
4,453 |
942Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1 16% below VT |
38.3±4.3Highest 11% below VT |
35.6±11.7Lowest 17% below VT |
| Castleton and Northfield 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% |
30.6%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.7%±8.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton and Northfield 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% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$73,214±$22k 10% below VT |
| Castleton and Roxbury 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 |
$242,600±$55k 23% below VT |
| Northfield and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$950±$495Lowest 23% below VT |
| Castleton and Northfield 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 |
$4,284 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
16.7%±100Lowest 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% |
27.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Northfield and Castleton 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 | — |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
— | — |
| 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.