Compare towns
Afton vs Castleton vs Gaines
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Gaines has the most people working from home (13.6%).
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 | Afton | Castleton | Gaines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,733Lowest |
4,453Highest |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.6±6.3Highest 22% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.5±4.4 17% above U.S. |
| Afton and Gaines 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%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±5.4Lowest 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%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gaines and Afton 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% |
14.4% 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% |
8.2%±3.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $51,736±$13kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$56,582±$8k 30% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Gaines 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. |
$125,800±$19k 62% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $826±$212Lowest 42% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$922±$72 35% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Gaines 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. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$3,157Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66%±45.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
18.4%±16.2Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gaines and Castleton 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 | 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.