Compare towns
Waitsfield 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
Waitsfield has the most people working from home (31%).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
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 | Waitsfield | Castleton | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 193Lowest |
4,453 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 74.8±13.4Highest 74% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 0%±14.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 71.5%±17.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±9.1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $26,384±$5kLowest 68% 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 | $453,100±$98kHighest 43% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% 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 | $4,688 7% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.1%±49.6Lowest 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 | 3.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 33.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 40% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 31%±23.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Waitsfield 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 | — | #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 | 12 photos → | 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.