Compare towns
Castleton vs Orwell vs Highgate vs Hyde Park
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).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Hyde Park has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Orwell | Highgate | Hyde Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,294Lowest |
3,528 |
3,000 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
41.6±3.9 3% below VT |
| Orwell and Highgate 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% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Hyde Park 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% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
18.7%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Highgate 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% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$84,375±$9kHighest 4% above VT |
| Hyde Park and Highgate 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 |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$198,400±$39kLowest 37% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,007±$340 18% below VT |
| Castleton and Orwell 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 |
$3,914Highest 22% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,883 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Orwell 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% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Orwell 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | #59 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058B · Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Lamoille Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8Lowest |
10.0Highest |
| 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.