Compare towns
Castleton vs Dover vs Poultney
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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Poultney has the most affordable homes ($206k median).
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 | Dover | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453 |
33,364Highest |
3,010Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Highest about the U.S. average |
36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
34±5.6Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Dover 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% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Poultney 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Poultney 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$72,617±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Dover 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 32% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$206,200±$18kLowest 38% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$913±$84Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$3,520 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | #64 of 120 in NH | #41 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Dover School District | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Poultney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
10.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.