Compare towns
Baltimore vs Castleton vs Reading vs Waterville
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 highest household income ($108k).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
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 | Baltimore | Castleton | Reading | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 361Lowest |
4,453Highest |
699 |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.2±10.3Highest 19% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
| Baltimore and Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading 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% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±2.7Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,500±$16kHighest 32% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Baltimore and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
| Castleton and Waterville 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Reading 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 11% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.8%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Baltimore 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school 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 |
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.