What stands out worked out from the figures below

Burlington has the most people working from home (19%).

Castleton has the most homeowners (79%).

Burlington is a college town. 32.3% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Burlington	Castleton
People
Population	44,675Highest	4,453Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.5%Highest VT: +2.8%	-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	26.8±0.8Lowest 38% below VT	38.3±4.3Highest 11% below VT
Kids under 18	11.1%±1.2Lowest VT: 17.9%	18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	12.1%±1.1Lowest VT: 21.4%	20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	60.5%Highest VT: 43.8%	37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	32.3%±2.2Highest VT: 7%	19.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,109±$4kLowest 12% below VT	$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT
	Castleton and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$444,800±$19kHighest 40% above VT	$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,649±$53Highest 34% above VT	$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,335Highest 46% above VT	$3,167Lowest 37% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.6%±4.9Lowest VT: 48.4%	67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4%
	Castleton and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	20.5%Highest VT: 10.1%	12.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	41.5%Lowest VT: 73.2%	79%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 19 yrs older than VT	1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 20% below VT	19 minHighest 17% below VT
Work from home	19%±2.5Highest VT: 16.9%	6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#23 of 70 in VT	#39 of 70 in VT
School district	Burlington School District	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town	Burlington High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.