Compare towns
Castleton vs Dover vs Putnam
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 youngest population (median age 38.3).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Putnam has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,466 |
540Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Putnam 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Dover 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% |
48.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Putnam 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±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$332,900±$55kHighest about the U.S. average |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
| Dover and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,510Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 17% below U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±11.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Putnam 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 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 |
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.