Compare towns
Castleton vs Exeter vs Putnam vs St. Albans
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).
Exeter has the most people working from home (14.4%).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
St. Albans has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.5%).
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 | Putnam | St. Albans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
913 |
540Lowest |
7,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
41.3±2.8 6% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Exeter 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% |
17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and St. Albans 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% |
26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Exeter 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±4.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$90,060±$19k 12% above U.S. |
| Putnam and St. Albans 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. |
$243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$363,300±$22kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
— | $1,460±$152Highest 3% above U.S. |
| St. Albans 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. |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
$4,689Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.6%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| St. Albans 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and St. Albans 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 | — | — | #46 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.