Compare towns
Northfield vs Plainfield vs Castleton vs Waitsfield
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 most renters (26.5% rent).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($155k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
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 | Plainfield | Castleton | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
1,016Lowest |
4,453 |
1,918 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1 6% below U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
44.3±5.3Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Waitsfield 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waitsfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13k 11% below U.S. |
$70,673±$6kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$84,375±$34kHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Waitsfield 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. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$422,400±$92kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207 28% below U.S. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,200±$821Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Waitsfield 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. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$6,208Highest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6 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% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waitsfield 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 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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 | 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.