Compare towns
Castleton vs Danby vs Hampton vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Danby has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Danby | Hampton | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,133Lowest |
1,145 |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
52.6±4.8Highest 35% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
| Danby and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Danby 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$77,321±$13kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$73,796±$8kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$75,417±$11k 7% below U.S. |
| Danby and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$272,400±$41kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$243,000±$42k 27% below U.S. |
| Danby and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$794±$166Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375 11% below U.S. |
$1,313±$282Highest 7% below U.S. |
| Wells and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167 about the U.S. average |
$4,543Highest 46% above U.S. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,308 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±34.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Danby and Wells 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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 | None yet |
U.S. 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.