Compare towns
Albany vs Castleton vs Madison
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Albany has the most people working from home (16.2%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Madison has the most expensive homes ($389k 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 | Albany | Castleton | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 790Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±9.7 20% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.3±9.7Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Madison and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Madison and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Madison and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,639±$19kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$102,697±$11kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Madison and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $248,300±$68k 25% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$388,700±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,194±$112 15% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,556±$256Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Madison and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,554Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$4,074Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.2%±97.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Madison and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±18.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Albany and Madison 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 | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Madison School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.