Compare towns
Northfield vs Walpole vs Berlin 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).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
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 | Walpole | Berlin | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
3,690 |
2,880Lowest |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
| Berlin and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Walpole 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% |
32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Walpole 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. |
$319,800±$48kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Walpole 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. |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Walpole 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. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% 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% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #27 of 120 in NH | #16 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | 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.