Compare towns
Williston 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
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
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 | Williston | Northfield | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
5,920 |
4,453Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
| Williston and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Williston and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
| Williston and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Lowest 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 | 4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| 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.