Compare towns

Castleton vs Leyden vs St. Albans

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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
Leyden has the oldest population (median age 53.2).
St. Albans has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.5%).

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.

MeasureCastletonLeydenSt. Albans
People
Population
4,453
637Lowest
7,057Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
53.2±8.2Highest
37% above U.S.
41.3±2.8
6% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18.8%±6.4
U.S.: 22%
13.8%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
St. Albans and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.7%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.6%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.8%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
40%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
33.6%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%
8.1%±4.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below U.S.
$105,893±$13kHighest
31% above U.S.
$90,060±$19k
12% above U.S.
Leyden 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
32% below U.S.
$372,900±$24kHighest
12% above U.S.
$363,300±$22k
9% above U.S.
Leyden and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,137±$195Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,917±$451Highest
36% above U.S.
$1,460±$152
3% above U.S.
Leyden and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$4,651
49% above U.S.
$4,689Highest
50% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9
U.S.: 51.1%
42.9%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
73.6%±20.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
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
U.S.: 12.5%
10.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
33 minHighest
23% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11%±5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±5.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Leyden 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 — #46 of 70 in VT
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 — —
High school in town None in town — —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.