Compare towns
Castleton vs Exeter vs Hampton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-5.5%).
Exeter has the most people working from home (14.4%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
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 | Exeter | Hampton | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
913Lowest |
1,145 |
3,010 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-12% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
34±5.6Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Hampton 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% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter 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% |
26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$77,550±$19kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$72,617±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Exeter 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. |
$243,000±$89kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$206,200±$18k 38% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$913±$84 35% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167 about the U.S. average |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$3,007 4% below U.S. |
$3,520Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Poultney 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 | — | — | #41 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | — | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | Poultney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.5 |
| 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.