Compare towns
Brighton vs Castleton vs Whiting
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Castleton has the most homeowners (79%).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% 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 | Brighton | Castleton | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,167 |
4,453Highest |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6Highest 5% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
| Brighton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
| Whiting and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$280,400±$36kHighest 11% below VT |
| Whiting and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
| Whiting and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360 33% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,227Highest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
11.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Brighton and Whiting 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 | Brighton School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| 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 |
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.