Compare towns
Castleton vs Chelsea vs Washington
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).
Chelsea has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Washington has the most people working from home (14.9%).
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 | Chelsea | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,223 |
1,056Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT |
52.9±5.1 23% above VT |
| Chelsea and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea and Castleton 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% |
29.4%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Chelsea and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
31% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.7%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$65,913±$13kLowest 19% below VT |
$66,103±$8k 19% below VT |
| Castleton and Washington 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 |
$260,900±$39kHighest 18% below VT |
$217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
| Chelsea 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 |
$1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
$996±$285Lowest 19% below VT |
| Chelsea 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 |
$3,762Highest 25% below VT |
$3,485 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2 VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Chelsea 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% |
14.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.2% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Washington and Chelsea 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 | First Branch Unified School District #82 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | None 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.