Compare towns
Northfield vs Waitsfield vs Moretown 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 youngest population (median age 36.4).
Waitsfield has the oldest population (median age 74.8).
Moretown has the highest household income ($104k).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
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 | Waitsfield | Moretown | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
193Lowest |
1,532 |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
— | +5.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
74.8±13.4Highest 74% above VT |
46.8±3.8 9% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
0%±14.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Moretown 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% |
71.5%±17.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
18%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
71.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
58.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.2%±9.1 VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$26,384±$5kLowest 68% below VT |
$104,423±$7kHighest 29% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$453,100±$98kHighest 43% above VT |
$380,800±$36k 20% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Waitsfield and Moretown 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 |
— | $838±$462Lowest 32% 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 |
$4,688 7% below VT |
$5,506Highest 9% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
41.1%±49.6 VT: 48.4% |
16.1%±14.3Lowest 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% |
3.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
3.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% VT: 73.2% |
33.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
14 minLowest 40% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
31%±23.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Waitsfield and Moretown 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 | — | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | 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 |
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.