Compare towns
Northfield vs Middlesex vs Barre 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 most renters (26.5% rent).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Barre has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k 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 | Middlesex | Barre | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920 |
1,943Lowest |
8,005Highest |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
0% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
48.4±4.2Highest 12% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
| Barre and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Castleton 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Barre 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$93,210±$9k 15% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
| Middlesex and Barre 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$281,400±$13k 11% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,524±$399Highest 24% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
| Barre and Middlesex 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,737 6% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±20.4 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% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.4% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.7%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Barre 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 | — | #19 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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 Our Story | 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.