Compare towns
Northfield vs Proctor vs Castleton vs Berlin
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).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
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 | Proctor | Castleton | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
1,794Lowest |
4,453 |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
| Berlin and Proctor 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% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor 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% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
| Berlin and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
| Northfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
| Berlin and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 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% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 20 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Northfield and Berlin 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 | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Highest |
8.7Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.