Compare towns
Castleton vs Mount Tabor vs Strafford
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).
Mount Tabor has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Strafford has the most people working from home (16.1%).
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 | Mount Tabor | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
304Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
57.8±10.6Highest 34% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| Mount Tabor and Strafford 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% |
10.2%±6.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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 VT: 21.4% |
42.4%±18.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Mount Tabor and Strafford 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% |
34.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
— | $110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford 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±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$420,500±$76k 33% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Mount Tabor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$2,143±$367Highest 74% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,233 4% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Strafford 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% |
11% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1946Lowest 30 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
46 minHighest 94% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford and Mount Tabor 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 | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.