Compare towns
Castleton vs Calais vs Arlington
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).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Calais | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,713Lowest |
2,598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
42±8.6Highest about the VT average |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
| Calais and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Arlington 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% |
21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Calais 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
| Arlington and Calais 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 |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$318,500±$59k about the VT average |
| Calais and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,191±$172 3% below VT |
| Calais and Arlington 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 |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,549 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Calais 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 | — | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Arlington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Arlington Memorial |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.