Compare towns
Brownington vs Castleton vs Ryegate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brownington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Ryegate has the most people working from home (8.2%).
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 | Brownington | Castleton | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,144 |
4,453Highest |
1,059Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.5±4.5 6% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
41.2±2.6Highest 4% below VT |
| Ryegate and Brownington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Brownington and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.7%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ryegate and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.5 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,556±$17kHighest 7% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
| Brownington and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$40kLowest 39% below VT |
$224,800±$71kHighest 29% below VT |
$219,300±$32k 31% below VT |
| Castleton and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $745±$504Lowest 40% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$908±$236 26% below VT |
| Castleton and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,912Highest 22% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,472 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.5%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brownington and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 6%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Ryegate and Castleton 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 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District | 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.