Compare towns

Castleton vs Norton 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).
Norton has the most people working from home (25.5%).
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.

MeasureCastletonNortonPoultney
People
Population
4,453Highest
108Lowest
3,010
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
-12%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
38.3±4.3
11% below VT
53.8±6.7Highest
25% above VT
34±5.6Lowest
21% below VT
Kids under 18
18.8%±6.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
13%±21.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
17.8%±3.8
VT: 17.9%
Castleton and Poultney 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%
31.5%±15.8Highest
VT: 21.4%
22.8%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
Norton and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
28.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
35.5%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
VT: 7%
4.6%±10.7Lowest
VT: 7%
9.3%±2.3
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23kHighest
9% below VT
$65,625±$23kLowest
19% below VT
$72,617±$6k
11% below VT
Castleton and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$224,800±$71kHighest
29% below VT
$200,000±$32kLowest
37% below VT
$206,200±$18k
35% below VT
Castleton and Poultney 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
—
$913±$84Lowest
26% below VT
Castleton and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,167
37% below VT
$2,769Lowest
45% below VT
$3,520Highest
30% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
—
43.3%±17.3Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Castleton and Poultney 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%
13%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%
VT: 73.2%
100%Highest
VT: 73.2%
71.3%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
2 yrs older than VT
1974Highest
2 yrs older than VT
1968Lowest
8 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
17% below VT
39 minHighest
68% above VT
29 min
24% above VT
Work from home
6.2%±3.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
25.5%±18Highest
VT: 16.9%
11.3%±4.4
VT: 16.9%
Norton and Poultney 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 — Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70
High school 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

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.