Compare towns
Northfield vs Sutton vs Whitingham 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).
Sutton has the oldest population (median age 46.6).
Whitingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1%).
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 | Sutton | Whitingham | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
790Lowest |
1,368 |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
46.6±5.7Highest 8% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
| Sutton and Whitingham 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% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Whitingham 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% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
| Castleton and Northfield 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 |
$231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Northfield and Whitingham 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 |
— | $673±$150Lowest 45% 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 |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 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% VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Northfield and Sutton 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Highest |
— | 7.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.