Compare towns
Castleton vs Dummerston vs Smithville
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).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Smithville has the most affordable homes ($173k 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 | Dummerston | Smithville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,090 |
1,525Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.1±3.2 11% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Smithville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Castleton 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%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston 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% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$70,433±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Dummerston 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. |
$335,300±$22kHighest about the U.S. average |
$173,200±$42kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$889±$186Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,536Highest 45% above U.S. |
$4,254 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±31.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Smithville 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% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| High school 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.