Compare towns

Castleton vs Hampton vs Wilder 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 youngest population (median age 38.3).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
St. Albans has the most expensive homes ($363k median).

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.

MeasureCastletonHamptonWilderSt. Albans
People
Population
4,453
1,145Lowest
3,087
7,057Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-8.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+81.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.1±14.7
11% above U.S.
45.5±8.9Highest
17% above U.S.
41.3±2.8
6% above U.S.
Wilder 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%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
St. Albans 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%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.3%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.8%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Wilder and St. Albans 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%
60.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
33.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
8.1%±3.9
U.S.: 6.4%
8.1%±4.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
$73,796±$8kLowest
9% below U.S.
$75,143±$9k
7% below U.S.
$90,060±$19kHighest
12% above U.S.
St. Albans and Wilder 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.
$166,800±$10kLowest
50% below U.S.
$273,200±$18k
18% below U.S.
$363,300±$22kHighest
9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,137±$195Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,264±$375
11% below U.S.
$1,142±$451
19% below U.S.
$1,460±$152Highest
3% above U.S.
St. Albans and Hampton 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.
$5,505Highest
76% above U.S.
$4,689
50% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9
U.S.: 51.1%
13.2%±25.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.9%±17.2
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
16.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
62.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
27% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
17 minLowest
37% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.8%±8.4
U.S.: 15.1%
12.6%±6.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±5.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Wilder 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 — — —
High school in town None in town — — —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet 6 photos → 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.