What stands out worked out from the figures below

Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).

Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Castleton	Hartford
People
Population	4,453Lowest	10,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+7.4%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT	43.2±3.9Highest about the VT average
	Hartford and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9%	18%±3Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Castleton and Hartford 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%	22.5%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4%
	Hartford 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 VT: 43.8%	47.6%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7%	4.9%±1.7Lowest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT	$78,125±$7kHighest 4% below VT
	Hartford 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	$304,500±$26kHighest 4% below VT
	Hartford and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT	$1,218±$118Highest about the VT average
	Hartford and Castleton 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	$5,773Highest 15% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4%	44.6%±12.7Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Castleton and Hartford 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%	11.1%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79%Highest VT: 73.2%	67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT	1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minHighest 17% below VT	18 minLowest 22% below VT
Work from home	6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9%	13.9%±3.5Highest VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#39 of 70 in VT	#34 of 70 in VT
School district	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62	Hartford School District
High school in town	None in town	Hartford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.6
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.