Compare towns

Busti vs Castleton vs Ellicott vs Hoosick

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Busti has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
Castleton has the most expensive homes ($225k median).
Ellicott has the most affordable homes ($121k median).
Hoosick has the most people working from home (16.3%).

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.

MeasureBustiCastletonEllicottHoosick
People
Population
7,452
4,453Lowest
8,659Highest
6,671
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.6±4.8Highest
20% above U.S.
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
45.3±3.1
16% above U.S.
44.9±5.5
15% above U.S.
Busti and Ellicott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.9%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±6.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.7%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Hoosick and Ellicott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.8%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.1%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.7%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Ellicott and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
29.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
27.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
24%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$67,292±$9k
17% below U.S.
$73,854±$23kHighest
9% below U.S.
$60,880±$7kLowest
25% below U.S.
$63,372±$21k
22% below U.S.
Castleton and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$164,600±$12k
51% below U.S.
$224,800±$71kHighest
32% below U.S.
$120,700±$10kLowest
64% below U.S.
$177,200±$21k
47% below U.S.
Castleton and Hoosick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,085±$106
23% below U.S.
$1,137±$195Highest
20% below U.S.
$875±$46Lowest
38% below U.S.
$881±$148
38% below U.S.
Castleton and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,876
24% above U.S.
$3,167
about the U.S. average
$2,662Lowest
15% below U.S.
$4,071Highest
31% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.5%±13.2
U.S.: 51.1%
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.5%±9.3
U.S.: 51.1%
43%±13.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
11%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
79%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
74.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1974Highest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1955
25 yrs older than U.S.
1954Lowest
26 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
20% below U.S.
19 min
27% below U.S.
16 minLowest
40% below U.S.
32 minHighest
21% above U.S.
Work from home
9.5%±4.5
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.3%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hoosick and Busti 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 #203 of 484 in NY #62 of 484 in NY
School district — Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 FALCONER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · SOUTHWESTERN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT AT JAMESTOWN HOOSICK FALLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town — None in town FALCONER MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL HOOSICK FALLS HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.5Highest
9.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 6 photos → None yet 1 photos → None yet

U.S. 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.