Compare towns
Northfield vs Montpelier 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).
Montpelier has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Montpelier | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920 |
8,014Highest |
4,453Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
42.3±2.4Highest about the VT average |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
| Montpelier and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Montpelier 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% |
24.3%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Montpelier 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% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$81,030±$6kHighest about the VT average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
| Montpelier 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 |
$375,100±$21kHighest 18% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,302±$113Highest 6% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
| Montpelier 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 |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5Lowest 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% |
6.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 20 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #42 of 70 in VT | #9 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | Montpelier High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
10.4Highest |
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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.