Compare towns
Northfield vs Meredith 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 youngest population (median age 36.4).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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.
| Measure | Northfield | Meredith | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920 |
6,758Highest |
4,453Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest 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%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$87,019±$19kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
| Meredith 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 18% below U.S. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
| Meredith 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. |
$5,006Highest 61% 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% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest 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% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
11.1Highest |
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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.