Compare towns
Castleton vs Epsom vs Strafford
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).
Epsom has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($428k 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 | Epsom | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453 |
4,939Highest |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.1±3.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
| Epsom and Strafford 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% |
18.2%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Epsom 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% |
20.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$97,941±$13k 21% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Epsom 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. |
$338,400±$19k about the U.S. average |
$427,900±$29kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,212±$437 14% below U.S. |
$1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Epsom 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 |
$6,210Highest 99% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
71.2%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Epsom 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Epsom 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 | #69 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Epsom School District | Strafford 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.