Compare towns
Northfield vs Putney vs Windham vs Castleton
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 youngest population (median age 36.4).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Putney | Windham | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920 |
2,622Lowest |
16,038Highest |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
37.2±5.2 4% below U.S. |
41.1±2.9Highest 6% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
| Windham 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% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Castleton and Northfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207 28% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878 56% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #13 of 120 in NH | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Windham School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.