Compare towns
Castleton vs Highgate vs Putney vs Poultney
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 kids (18.8% under 18).
Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Poultney has the youngest population (median age 34).
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 | Highgate | Putney | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
3,528 |
2,622Lowest |
3,010 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-12%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
37.2±5.2 14% below VT |
34±5.6Lowest 21% below VT |
| Highgate 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% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.8%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Poultney 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% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Poultney and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
9.3%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$72,617±$6kLowest 11% below VT |
| Highgate and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$206,200±$18kLowest 35% below VT |
| Putney and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$913±$84 26% below VT |
| Castleton and Poultney 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 |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,520 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
29 min 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Putney and Highgate 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 | #43 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT | #41 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | Poultney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
— | 10.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.