Compare towns
Castleton vs Leyden vs Plainfield vs Hyde Park
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Leyden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (16.4%).
Hyde Park has the most affordable homes ($198k 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 | Leyden | Plainfield | Hyde Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
637Lowest |
1,314 |
3,000 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.2±8.2Highest 37% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
41.6±3.9 7% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hyde Park 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$105,893±$13kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$84,375±$9k 5% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$372,900±$24kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$198,400±$39kLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Leyden and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,007±$340Lowest 29% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,651 49% above U.S. |
$4,806Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,883 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.2%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Leyden 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 | — | — | #59 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058B · Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | Lamoille Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.