Compare towns
Castleton vs Arlington vs Rockingham
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Rockingham has the most renters (38.3% rent).
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 | Arlington | Rockingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453 |
2,598Lowest |
4,807Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-8.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
46.4±2.6Highest 8% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington and Rockingham 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% |
20.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rockingham and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
6.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$70,857±$16kLowest 13% below VT |
| Arlington and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$318,500±$59kHighest about the VT average |
$210,900±$14kLowest 33% below VT |
| Arlington and Castleton 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 |
$1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
$1,062±$101Lowest 14% below VT |
| Arlington 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 |
$4,549 10% below VT |
$4,887Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.7%±13.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
84%Highest VT: 73.2% |
61.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
20 minHighest 13% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | #50 of 70 in VT | #65 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Arlington School District | Rockingham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Arlington Memorial | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.