Compare towns
Bainbridge vs Castleton vs Afton vs Cato
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bainbridge has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Castleton has the most expensive homes ($225k median).
Afton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.9%).
Cato has the most people working from home (11.2%).
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 | Bainbridge | Castleton | Afton | Cato |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,017 |
4,453Highest |
2,733 |
2,542Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±7.6 24% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.6±6.3 22% above U.S. |
48.7±4Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Cato and Bainbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bainbridge and Afton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
11.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $60,391±$8k 25% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$51,736±$13kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$79,760±$11kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Cato and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $150,500±$32k 55% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kHighest 32% below U.S. |
$125,700±$23kLowest 62% below U.S. |
$167,600±$6k 50% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Cato are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $767±$237Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$826±$212 42% below U.S. |
$942±$425 33% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Cato are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,712Highest 19% above U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$3,395 9% above U.S. |
$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.1%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66%±45.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
7.1%±23.7Lowest 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 | 12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 12% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cato and Bainbridge 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 | #332 of 484 in NY | #39 of 70 in VT | #418 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | BAINBRIDGE-GUILFORD CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | AFTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | BAINBRIDGE-GUILFORD HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | AFTON JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Highest |
— | 6.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.