Compare towns

Baltimore vs Castleton vs Middlesex vs West Haven

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Baltimore has the most affordable homes ($219k median).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
West Haven has the oldest population (median age 54).

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.

MeasureBaltimoreCastletonMiddlesexWest Haven
People
Population
361
4,453Highest
1,943
234Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-5.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+2.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
51.2±10.3
19% above VT
38.3±4.3Lowest
11% below VT
44.4±3.9
3% above VT
54±10.5Highest
25% above VT
West Haven and Baltimore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
8.9%±6.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±6.4
VT: 17.9%
21.3%±3.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
17.5%±13.3
VT: 17.9%
Middlesex and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.7%±4.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
20.7%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
20.6%±3.7
VT: 21.4%
29.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 21.4%
West Haven and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
25.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
37.9%
VT: 43.8%
54.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
30.6%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±2.7
VT: 7%
19.3%±1.8Highest
VT: 7%
5.2%±2.6
VT: 7%
0.4%±4.4Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$107,500±$16k
32% above VT
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below VT
$109,632±$13kHighest
35% above VT
$85,250±$29k
5% above VT
Middlesex and Baltimore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$219,400±$27kLowest
31% below VT
$224,800±$71k
29% below VT
$376,300±$40kHighest
19% above VT
$245,000±$34k
23% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,137±$195Lowest
8% below VT
$1,333±$359Highest
8% above VT
—
Middlesex and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,329
14% below VT
$3,167Lowest
37% below VT
$6,483Highest
29% above VT
$4,485
11% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
26.7%±100
VT: 48.4%
67.7%±21.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Castleton and Baltimore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
1.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
12.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
3.8%
VT: 10.1%
10.3%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.8%
VT: 73.2%
79%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
96.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
90.3%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
1 yr newer than VT
1974Lowest
2 yrs older than VT
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
1978
2 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
11% below VT
19 minLowest
17% below VT
27 minHighest
17% above VT
25 min
8% above VT
Work from home
9.8%±4.4
VT: 16.9%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
28.4%±10.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
10.4%±6.5
VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #39 of 70 in VT — —
School district — Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 —
High school in town — None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

VT 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.