Compare towns
Northfield vs Swanton vs Castleton vs Berlin
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).
Swanton has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
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 | Swanton | Castleton | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
2,670Lowest |
4,453 |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
37.8±4.7 12% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton 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% |
19.3%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin 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% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
| Berlin 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±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
$229,000±$15k 28% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
| Northfield and Berlin 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 |
$1,238±$103Highest about the VT average |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
| Swanton and Berlin 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 |
$4,370 13% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 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% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 20 yrs older than VT |
1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
21 min 9% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Northfield and Berlin 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 | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 | 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.