Compare towns
Northfield vs Rochester 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 expensive homes ($274k median).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Rochester | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
1,389Lowest |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest 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% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
| Castleton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Northfield and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$929±$158Lowest 25% 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 | $4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester 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 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.