Compare towns
Castleton vs Johnson vs Royalton
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 homeowners (79%).
Johnson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Royalton has the most people working from home (17.8%).
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 | Johnson | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
3,450 |
2,752Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
43.9±10.1Highest about the VT average |
| Royalton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Johnson 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% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Royalton 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% VT: 43.8% |
32.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
42.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
14.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
8%±4.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
| Royalton 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±$71k 29% below VT |
$169,400±$62kLowest 46% below VT |
$263,200±$73kHighest 17% below VT |
| Royalton and Castleton 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 |
$948±$45Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,040±$391 16% below VT |
| Castleton and Royalton 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 |
$3,310 34% below VT |
$4,675Highest 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.6%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Johnson 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% |
12.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
63.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.8%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Royalton and Johnson 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 | #57 of 70 in VT | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| 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.