Compare towns
Castleton vs Hampton vs Ripton vs Hyde Park
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).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Hyde Park has the most kids (20% under 18).
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 | Hampton | Ripton | Hyde Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,145 |
508Lowest |
3,000 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
41.6±3.9 7% above U.S. |
| Ripton 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% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hyde Park 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% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ripton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$73,796±$8kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$84,375±$9k 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$198,400±$39k 40% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
— | $1,007±$340Lowest 29% 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 |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$3,883 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Ripton 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% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.2%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Hyde Park 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 | — | — | #59 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058B · Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Lamoille Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.0 |
| 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.