Compare towns
Northfield vs Swanton vs Cornish vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
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 | Swanton | Cornish | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
2,670 |
1,816Lowest |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
37.8±4.7 about the U.S. average |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
24.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13k 11% below U.S. |
$66,607±$27kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$91,821±$2kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
| Cornish 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 18% below U.S. |
$229,000±$15k 31% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,238±$103Highest 12% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
| Swanton and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878 56% above U.S. |
$4,370 40% above U.S. |
$5,796Highest 86% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±21.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.4%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northfield and Cornish 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 | — | Cornish School District | 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 | None yet |
U.S. 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.