Compare towns
Bolton vs Castleton vs White River Junction
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
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 | Bolton | Castleton | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,163Lowest |
4,453Highest |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.3±1.7 16% below VT |
38.3±4.3Highest 11% below VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
| Castleton and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,125±$17kHighest 37% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$42kHighest about the VT average |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
| Bolton and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$273Highest 5% above VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
| Bolton and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,826 4% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±30.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 17% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Bolton and White River Junction 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 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.