Compare towns
Castleton vs Andover vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
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 | Castleton | Andover | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
616Lowest |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
| Reading and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
| Andover and Reading 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 |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
| Andover and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,190 about the VT average |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Reading 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.