Compare towns

Castleton vs Norwich vs Richmond

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).
Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Richmond has the most people working from home (22.5%).

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.

MeasureCastletonNorwichRichmond
People
Population
4,453Highest
3,640Lowest
4,159
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+5.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+2.1%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
11% below VT
40.8±3.2
5% below VT
43.7±5.6Highest
about the VT average
Richmond and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.8%±6.4Lowest
VT: 17.9%
24%±5.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
21.5%±5
VT: 17.9%
Norwich and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.7%±4.6Highest
VT: 21.4%
16%±3.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
19.5%±6.3
VT: 21.4%
Castleton and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
81%Highest
VT: 43.8%
59.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
VT: 7%
4.8%±2.4
VT: 7%
2.8%±1.7Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below VT
$140,313±$12kHighest
73% above VT
$108,235±$24k
33% above VT
Norwich and Richmond 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
$637,500±$76kHighest
101% above VT
$432,200±$39k
37% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,137±$195Lowest
8% below VT
$1,460±$322Highest
18% above VT
—
Norwich 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
$10,000+Highest
at least 98% above VT
$6,868
36% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
30.7%±19.9
VT: 48.4%
28.5%±15.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Castleton and Norwich 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%
2.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
4.2%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Highest
VT: 73.2%
71.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
78.8%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
2 yrs older than VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
17% below VT
19 minLowest
19% below VT
25 minHighest
6% above VT
Work from home
6.2%±3.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
21%±5.3
VT: 16.9%
22.5%±6.1Highest
VT: 16.9%
Richmond and Norwich 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 #1 of 70 in VT #5 of 70 in VT
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Norwich School District Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401
High school in town None 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.