Compare towns
Northfield vs Hanover 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Hanover | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920 |
11,685Highest |
4,453Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1 6% below U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
38.3±4.3Highest about the U.S. average |
| 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%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Northfield 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% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
| 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 |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Hanover 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% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #42 of 70 in VT | #1 of 120 in NH | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
10.7Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.