Compare towns
Cambridge vs Middlesex vs Putney vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cambridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
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 | Cambridge | Middlesex | Putney | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,767 |
1,943Lowest |
2,622 |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.4±1.8 13% below VT |
44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
| Middlesex and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Cambridge and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.7% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,344±$19kLowest 11% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
| Middlesex and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,000±$38k 8% above VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Middlesex and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,183±$66 4% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
| Middlesex and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,910 about the VT average |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.6%±7.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.7% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 9 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Putney 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 | #25 of 70 in VT | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Cambridge School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.