Compare towns
Burke vs Castleton vs Proctor vs Kirby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burke has the highest household income ($87k).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Kirby has the most kids (30% 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 | Burke | Castleton | Proctor | Kirby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,317 |
4,453Highest |
1,794 |
756Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 41.1±4.8 5% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.4±6.4Highest about the VT average |
38.8±7.1 10% below VT |
| Proctor and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
30%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Kirby and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
4.6%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,143±$17kHighest 7% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$54,792±$21kLowest 33% below VT |
| Burke and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,600±$18kHighest 8% above VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$302,900±$63k 4% below VT |
| Burke and Kirby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $938±$191Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$1,250±$326Highest about the VT average |
| Kirby and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,177Highest about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$4,597 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.6%±31Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
25%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Burke and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
16.2% VT: 10.1% |
21.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
34 minHighest 43% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±9.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Burke and Kirby 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.