Compare towns

Northfield vs Killington vs Castleton

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).
Killington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+73.5%).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% 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.

MeasureNorthfieldKillingtonCastleton
People
Population
5,920Highest
785Lowest
4,453
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.7%
VT: +2.8%
+73.5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-5.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
36.4±4.1Lowest
16% below VT
52.8±4.2Highest
23% above VT
38.3±4.3
11% below VT
Kids under 18
14.6%±3.7
VT: 17.9%
13.9%±5.8Lowest
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±6.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20%±3.8Lowest
VT: 21.4%
21%±5.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
20.7%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
Killington 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%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
57.2%Highest
VT: 43.8%
37.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
15.1%±2.1
VT: 7%
6.5%±5.8Lowest
VT: 7%
19.3%±1.8Highest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,768±$13kLowest
12% below VT
$81,250±$39kHighest
about the VT average
$73,854±$23k
9% below VT
Killington 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
$488,400±$85kHighest
54% above VT
$224,800±$71kLowest
29% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,018±$207Lowest
18% below VT
$1,286±$483Highest
4% above VT
$1,137±$195
8% below VT
Killington 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
$6,827Highest
35% above VT
$3,167Lowest
37% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.3%±17.7
VT: 48.4%
49%±25.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
67.7%±21.9Highest
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%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
12.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
74.5%
VT: 73.2%
79%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
20 yrs older than VT
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
1974
2 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
16% above VT
16 minLowest
33% below VT
19 min
17% below VT
Work from home
12.1%±4.3
VT: 16.9%
24.7%±10.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Killington 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 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
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

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.