Compare towns
Castleton vs Halifax vs Peacham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Peacham has the oldest population (median age 50.1).
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.
| Measure | Castleton | Halifax | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
847Lowest |
887 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
40.6±13.1 6% below VT |
50.1±5.7Highest 16% above VT |
| Peacham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.4%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$90,000±$28kHighest 11% above VT |
| Peacham 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±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
$302,000±$64kHighest 5% below VT |
| Peacham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,028±$248 17% below VT |
| Castleton and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,991 about the VT average |
$5,605Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Peacham 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 | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Halifax School District | Peacham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.