Compare towns

Castleton vs Gray vs Stowe

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 affordable homes ($225k median).
Gray has the most homeowners (82.4%).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).

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.

MeasureCastletonGrayStowe
People
Population
4,453Lowest
8,429Highest
5,285
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+21.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.4±4.5
12% above U.S.
46.3±7.6Highest
19% above U.S.
Stowe and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.8%±6.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19%±4
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Stowe and Gray 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%
19.3%±4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Stowe 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%
44.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
66.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
1.6%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below U.S.
$95,236±$8kHighest
18% above U.S.
$93,618±$33k
16% above U.S.
Gray and Stowe 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.
$363,700±$20k
9% above U.S.
$647,800±$157kHighest
95% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,137±$195Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,371±$89
about the U.S. average
$1,458±$242Highest
3% above U.S.
Stowe and Gray 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
$3,683
18% above U.S.
$7,161Highest
130% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±24
U.S.: 51.1%
24.5%±15.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Gray 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%
3.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
27% below U.S.
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
24.4%±8.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Stowe and Gray 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 #10 of 133 in ME —
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences Stowe Town School District
High school in town None in town Gray-New Gloucester High School Stowe High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.5Highest
11.3Lowest
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.