Compare towns
Castleton vs Hartford vs Richmond
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
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%).
Richmond has the most people working from home (22.5%).
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 | Hartford | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453 |
10,736Highest |
4,159Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
43.7±5.6Highest about the VT average |
| Richmond and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
18%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Richmond 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 VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
$108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
| Richmond and Hartford 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±$26k 4% below VT |
$432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
| 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 |
$5,773 15% above VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
18 minLowest 22% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Richmond and Hartford 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Hartford School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hartford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.