Compare towns
Northfield vs Cornish vs West Windsor vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the most renters (26.5% rent).
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Cornish | West Windsor | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
1,816 |
1,171Lowest |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+22.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
54±5.9Highest 39% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±10Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| West Windsor and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish and West Windsor 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$108,750±$18kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
| West Windsor and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$393,500±$41kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| West Windsor and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,100±$217 22% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878 56% above U.S. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
$5,860Highest 88% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| West Windsor 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 |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Cornish School District | Mount Ascutney School District #86 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | 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 |
U.S. 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.