Compare towns

Castleton vs Hanover vs Dummerston

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).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Dummerston has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasureCastletonHanoverDummerston
People
Population
4,453
8,479Highest
2,090Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3
about the U.S. average
21.8±0.3Lowest
44% below U.S.
45.6±11.7Highest
17% above U.S.
Dummerston and Castleton 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%
9.8%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Dummerston 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%
17.6%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Dummerston 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%
89.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
58.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
49.8%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below U.S.
$153,281±$26kHighest
90% above U.S.
$101,696±$21k
26% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$224,800±$71kLowest
32% below U.S.
$842,600±$97kHighest
153% above U.S.
$335,300±$22k
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,137±$195Lowest
20% below U.S.
$2,254±$249Highest
60% above U.S.
$1,392±$126
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,536
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9
U.S.: 51.1%
72%±17.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hanover 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%
8%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
62.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1974Highest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
27% below U.S.
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
21 minHighest
21% below U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
26.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Hanover and Dummerston 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 #1 of 120 in NH —
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 — Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town None in town — None in town
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.