Compare towns

Castleton vs Durham vs Hanover

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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Hanover has the most people working from home (26.4%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasureCastletonDurhamHanover
People
Population
4,453Lowest
10,681
11,685Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3Highest
about the U.S. average
20.1±0.2Lowest
48% below U.S.
28.7±5.1
26% below U.S.
Kids under 18
18.8%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
6.5%±2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
14.4%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
Castleton and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.7%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
7.5%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Castleton and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
75.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
88.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
70.2%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
36.9%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below U.S.
$112,070±$25k
39% above U.S.
$169,583±$36kHighest
110% above U.S.
Hanover and Durham 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.
$498,000±$45k
50% above U.S.
$824,900±$61kHighest
148% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,137±$195Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,302±$211
8% below U.S.
$2,253±$217Highest
59% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.4%±19.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
66.4%±17.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Hanover 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%
12.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
53.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
27% below U.S.
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
20 minHighest
26% below U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
26.4%±5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #39 of 70 in VT #9 of 120 in NH #1 of 120 in NH
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 — Dresden School District · Hanover School District
High school in town None in town — Hanover High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.7
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.