Compare towns
Northfield vs Springfield vs Castleton vs St. Albans
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).
Springfield has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
St. Albans has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.5%).
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 | Springfield | Castleton | St. Albans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920 |
9,084Highest |
4,453Lowest |
7,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
43.2±3.7Highest about the VT average |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
41.3±2.8 4% below VT |
| Springfield and St. Albans 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% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
20%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| St. Albans 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% |
23.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.8%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Springfield and St. Albans 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% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
8.1%±4.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$90,060±$19kHighest 11% above VT |
| St. Albans 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 |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$363,300±$22kHighest 15% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,460±$152Highest 18% above VT |
| St. Albans 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 |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,689 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
73.6%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| St. Albans and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
79.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.7%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Springfield 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 | #64 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | #46 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | Springfield High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
14.3Highest |
— | — |
| 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.