Compare towns
Northfield vs Reading vs Sutton 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 most renters (26.5% rent).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (85%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Reading | Sutton | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
699Lowest |
790 |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
| Reading and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
| Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
— | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
| Castleton and Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest 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% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | 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 |
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.