Compare towns
Castleton vs Durham vs Royalton
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 kids (18.8% under 18).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Royalton has the oldest population (median age 43.9).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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.
| Measure | Castleton | Durham | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453 |
15,080Highest |
2,752Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
43.9±10.1Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Royalton and Castleton 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Royalton 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Royalton 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$103,938±$24k 29% above U.S. |
| Durham and Royalton 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. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$263,200±$73k 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,040±$391Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Durham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,675 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
13% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
63.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
20 minHighest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Royalton 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Oyster River Coop School District | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.