What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canaan has the most people working from home (15.4%).

Castleton has the highest household income ($74k).

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	Canaan	Castleton
People
Population	810Lowest	4,453Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%	-5.5%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	53.2±4.6Highest 23% above VT	38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT
Kids under 18	15.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9%	18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9%
	Castleton and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.5%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4%	20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Canaan and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.8%Lowest VT: 43.8%	37.9%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±2.3Lowest VT: 7%	19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$55,606±$4kLowest 32% below VT	$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT
	Castleton and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$201,900±$46kLowest 36% below VT	$224,800±$71kHighest 29% below VT
	Castleton and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,137±$195 8% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,389Highest 33% below VT	$3,167Lowest 37% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	17.2%±63.5Lowest VT: 48.4%	67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4%
	Castleton and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Lowest VT: 10.1%	12.5%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.4%Highest VT: 73.2%	79%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT	1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minHighest 15% below VT	19 minLowest 17% below VT
Work from home	15.4%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9%	6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Canaan and Castleton 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	Canaan School District	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town	Canaan High School CTE Program	None in town
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.