Compare towns
Northfield vs Randolph vs Sutton 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).
Randolph has the most renters (46.4% rent).
Sutton has the highest household income ($130k).
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 | Randolph | Sutton | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
2,007Lowest |
2,239 |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
50.5±7.7Highest 30% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1 24% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
| Randolph and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
11%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Randolph and Sutton 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% |
42.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.3%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$75,069±$11k 7% below U.S. |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
$235,400±$25k 29% below U.S. |
$362,600±$16kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,095±$198 23% below U.S. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
| Sutton 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. |
$4,507 45% above U.S. |
$7,652Highest 145% 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% |
54.3%±20.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest 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% |
14.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Randolph and Sutton 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 | #55 of 70 in VT | — | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — | Kearsarge Regional School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | — | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
— | 10.4Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.