Compare towns
Northfield vs Durham vs Castleton vs Berlin
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Castleton | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920 |
10,681Highest |
4,453 |
2,880Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1 6% below U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$112,070±$25kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
| Durham 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 18% below U.S. |
$498,000±$45kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,302±$211Highest 8% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
| Durham and Berlin 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9Lowest 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% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #39 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 History | 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.