Compare towns
Castleton vs Highgate vs Troy vs Wallingford
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Wallingford has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Troy | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
3,528 |
1,749Lowest |
2,286 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
45.9±10.8Highest 6% above VT |
| Wallingford and Troy 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% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Troy 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% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wallingford 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$87,938±$11kHighest 8% above VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
| Troy and Highgate 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 |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$233,200±$21k 26% below VT |
$261,900±$44k 17% below VT |
| Highgate and Wallingford 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 |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
$891±$95 28% below VT |
| Castleton and Highgate 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 |
$3,644 28% below VT |
$4,355Highest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Troy 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Troy 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 | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Troy School District | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.