Compare towns
Northfield vs Windsor vs Lyndeborough 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).
Windsor has the most renters (42.2% rent).
Lyndeborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
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 | Windsor | Lyndeborough | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
3,554 |
1,616Lowest |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
44.8±6.5 15% above U.S. |
50±3.2Highest 29% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
| Lyndeborough and Windsor 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% |
19.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Windsor 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% |
29.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor and Lyndeborough 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13k 11% below U.S. |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$116,964±$17kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
$207,500±$31kLowest 38% below U.S. |
$390,900±$26kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,026±$89 27% below U.S. |
$1,482±$457Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Castleton 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. |
$5,209 67% above U.S. |
$7,133Highest 129% 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% |
31.5%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90 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% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyndeborough 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 | #61 of 70 in VT | — | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative 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.