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 (-0.6%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | 6,954Highest |
4,453Lowest |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.7±2Highest 10% 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 | 20.5%±3.7Highest 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+ | 13.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,980±$7kLowest 29% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% 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 | $263,400±$18k 17% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
| Northfield and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$78Highest 7% below 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 | $4,436 12% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.8%±11.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 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 | 19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 4% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±3.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
— | 10.0Lowest |
| 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.