Compare towns
Worcester 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
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Northfield has the most renters (26.5% rent).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
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 | Worcester | Northfield | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
5,920Highest |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest 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+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Highest 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+ | 53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
| Castleton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Northfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
| Castleton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 12% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest 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 | 5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #42 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 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.