Compare towns
Northfield vs Jay vs Castleton vs Cambridge
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 youngest population (median age 36.4).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Cambridge has the most expensive homes ($343k median).
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 | Jay | Castleton | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
471Lowest |
4,453 |
3,767 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
37.4±1.8 13% below VT |
| Jay and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
23%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Cambridge and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
50.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$72,344±$19k 11% below VT |
| Jay and Castleton 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 |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$343,000±$38kHighest 8% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
— | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,183±$66Highest 4% below VT |
| Cambridge and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878 3% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,910Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
66.6%±7.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Cambridge 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
70.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1985 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
32 min 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | #25 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Cambridge School District |
| 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 History | None yet | 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.