Compare towns
Northfield vs Ripton vs Williston 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 youngest population (median age 36.4).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Williston has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Ripton | Williston | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920 |
508Lowest |
10,144Highest |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
| Ripton and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Williston 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 VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest 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% |
5.7%±2.7Lowest 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 |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
| Ripton and Williston 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±$61k 25% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Williston and Ripton 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 |
— | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878 3% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 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 |
20 min 16% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.