Compare towns
Castleton vs Epping vs Putnam 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).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
Poultney has the youngest population (median age 34).
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 | Epping | Putnam | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
7,430Highest |
540Lowest |
3,010 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-12%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
34±5.6Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Epping 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% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Epping 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% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$72,617±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Epping and Putnam 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. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$206,200±$18kLowest 38% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
— | $913±$84Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Epping 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 |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
$3,520 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Castleton 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | — | #41 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Epping School District | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | Poultney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
— | 10.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.