Compare towns

Cambridge vs Wilder vs Castleton vs Underhill

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cambridge has the youngest population (median age 37.4).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Underhill has the most people working from home (19.4%).

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.

MeasureCambridgeWilderCastletonUnderhill
People
Population
3,767
3,087Lowest
4,453Highest
3,141
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.9%
VT: +2.8%
+81.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-5.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+3.7%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
37.4±1.8Lowest
13% below VT
45.5±8.9Highest
6% above VT
38.3±4.3
11% below VT
38.1±11.4
12% below VT
Wilder and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23%±4.9
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±4.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±6.4
VT: 17.9%
27.8%±10.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
Underhill and Cambridge 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%
27.3%±4.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
20.7%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
17.6%±6
VT: 21.4%
Wilder and Castleton 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%
60.2%Highest
VT: 43.8%
37.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
50.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.9%±1.2Lowest
VT: 7%
8.1%±3.9
VT: 7%
19.3%±1.8Highest
VT: 7%
3.5%±2
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$72,344±$19kLowest
11% below VT
$75,143±$9k
7% below VT
$73,854±$23k
9% below VT
$92,267±$54kHighest
14% above VT
Underhill and Wilder 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
$273,200±$18k
14% below VT
$224,800±$71kLowest
29% below VT
$446,000±$24kHighest
41% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,183±$66Highest
4% below VT
$1,142±$451
7% below VT
$1,137±$195Lowest
8% below VT
—
Cambridge and Wilder 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
$5,505
9% above VT
$3,167Lowest
37% below VT
$6,697Highest
33% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.6%±7.3
VT: 48.4%
39.9%±17.2
VT: 48.4%
67.7%±21.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±18.2Lowest
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%
9.3%
VT: 10.1%
12.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
6.4%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
70.3%
VT: 73.2%
62.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
79%
VT: 73.2%
79.8%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
9 yrs newer than VT
1983
7 yrs newer than VT
1974Lowest
2 yrs older than VT
1979
3 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
38% above VT
17 minLowest
29% below VT
19 min
17% below VT
33 minHighest
39% above VT
Work from home
9.9%±4.1
VT: 16.9%
12.6%±6.7
VT: 16.9%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
19.4%±11.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
Underhill and Wilder 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 — #39 of 70 in VT #2 of 70 in VT
School district Cambridge School District — Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401
High school 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.