Compare towns
Castleton vs Middlesex vs Halifax vs Poultney
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).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Poultney has the youngest population (median age 34).
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 | Middlesex | Halifax | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,943 |
847Lowest |
3,010 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-12%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
40.6±13.1 6% below VT |
34±5.6Lowest 21% below VT |
| Middlesex and Halifax 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% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.8%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Poultney and Halifax 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.9% VT: 43.8% |
35.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
9.3%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$72,617±$6k 11% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
$206,200±$18kLowest 35% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$913±$84 26% below VT |
| Middlesex and Castleton 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,991 about the VT average |
$3,520 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Halifax 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
8.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
29 min 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Middlesex 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 | — | — | #41 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Halifax School District | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Poultney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.5 |
| 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.