Compare towns
Springfield vs Northfield vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.3%).
Northfield has the most expensive homes ($274k median).
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 | Springfield | Northfield | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
5,920 |
4,453Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Highest about the VT average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
| Springfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Springfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% 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 | $192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
| Northfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% 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 | $4,807 5% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 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 | 14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Springfield 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 | #64 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
10.0Lowest |
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| 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.