Compare towns
Northfield vs Wardsboro 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).
Wardsboro has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
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 | Wardsboro | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
820Lowest |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Wardsboro 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% 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±$21k 13% below VT |
$299,300±$47kHighest 5% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Wardsboro 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 18% below VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
| Wardsboro and Castleton 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 |
$4,345 14% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Lowest 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% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Wardsboro and Northfield 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | 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 History | 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.