Compare towns
Northfield vs Middlebury 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% 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 | Middlebury | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920 |
9,175Highest |
4,453Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+7.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1 16% below VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
38.3±4.3Highest 11% below VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest 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% |
20.7%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$86,169±$16kHighest 6% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
| Middlebury 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 |
$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,156±$113Highest 6% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
| Middlebury 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 |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4Lowest 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% |
10.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as 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% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlebury 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 | #17 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | Middlebury Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
12.6Highest |
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| 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.