Compare towns
Northfield vs Ripton vs Walden 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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
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 | Ripton | Walden | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
508Lowest |
1,037 |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
| Walden and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Northfield 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Ripton 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 12% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
| Ripton and Walden 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207 18% below VT |
— | $900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
| Castleton and Northfield 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 |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 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% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
26 min 10% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Ripton 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | 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.