Compare towns
St. Albans vs Castleton vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
St. Albans has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.5%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Northfield has the most people working from home (12.1%).
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 | St. Albans | Castleton | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,057Highest |
4,453Lowest |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.3±2.8Highest 4% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| St. Albans and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| St. Albans and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.8%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| St. Albans and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±4.1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,060±$19kHighest 11% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| St. Albans and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,300±$22kHighest 15% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$152Highest 18% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| St. Albans and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,689 7% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.6%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| St. Albans and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.7%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Northfield and St. Albans 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 | #46 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.