What stands out worked out from the figures below

Afton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.9%).

Castleton has the most expensive 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Afton	Castleton
People
Population	2,733Lowest	4,453Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.6±6.3Highest 22% above U.S.	38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average
	Afton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%	18.8%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Afton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Afton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	11.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$51,736±$13kLowest 36% below U.S.	$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below U.S.
	Castleton and Afton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$125,700±$23kLowest 62% below U.S.	$224,800±$71kHighest 32% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$826±$212Lowest 42% below U.S.	$1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S.
	Castleton and Afton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,395Highest 9% above U.S.	$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66%±45.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Castleton and Afton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	79%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.	1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 12% below U.S.	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	4.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	6.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Castleton and Afton 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	#418 of 484 in NY	#39 of 70 in VT
School district	AFTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town	AFTON JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	6.7	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.