Compare towns
Calais vs Castleton vs Reading vs Marshfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has the highest household income ($101k).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Marshfield has the most kids (24.2% 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 | Calais | Castleton | Reading | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
4,453Highest |
699Lowest |
1,863 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-0.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
38.7±6.1 10% below VT |
| Reading and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.2%±2.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Marshfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
38.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$60,313±$10kLowest 26% below VT |
| Calais and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$214,100±$37kLowest 32% below VT |
| Calais and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,317±$126 7% above VT |
| Calais and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$3,668 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
65.7%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
24.5%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Marshfield and Calais 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| 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 | 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.