Compare towns
Castleton vs Highgate vs Whiting vs St. Albans
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).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
St. Albans has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
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 | Whiting | St. Albans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
3,528 |
532Lowest |
7,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | +16.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
41.3±2.8 4% below VT |
| Highgate and St. Albans 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% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
20%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and St. Albans 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%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.8%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and St. Albans 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% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
33.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
8.1%±4.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
$90,060±$19k 11% above VT |
| Whiting and St. Albans 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±$21k 11% below VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$363,300±$22kHighest 15% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$1,460±$152Highest 18% above VT |
| St. Albans and Whiting 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 |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$4,689Highest 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
73.6%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| St. Albans and Castleton 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% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
10.7%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and St. Albans 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 | — | #46 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | 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.