Compare towns
Castleton vs Hanover vs Dunbarton
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 the most people working from home (26.4%).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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.
| Measure | Castleton | Hanover | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453 |
11,685Highest |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dunbarton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Castleton and Dunbarton 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% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21k 54% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Dunbarton 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. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33k 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,166±$70 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,233 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Hanover 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | #1 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
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| 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.