Compare towns
Appleton vs Castleton vs Union vs Searsmont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Searsmont has the highest household income ($87k).
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 | Appleton | Castleton | Union | Searsmont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,663 |
1,646 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
44.5±9.8 14% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10%±6.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$87,000±$20kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Searsmont and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$284,000±$31kHighest 15% below U.S. |
| Searsmont and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$940±$311Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Union and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$2,788Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±41.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±10.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Searsmont and Union 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 | Appleton Public Schools | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 71 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.