Compare towns
Northfield vs Sheldon vs Highgate 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).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
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 | Sheldon | Highgate | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
2,267Lowest |
3,528 |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Highgate and Northfield 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 |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
| Sheldon and Castleton 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 |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.