Compare towns
Castleton vs Peacham vs Walden
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).
Peacham has the most expensive homes ($302k median).
Walden 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 | Peacham | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
887Lowest |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.3% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
50.1±5.7Highest 16% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
| Peacham and Walden 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% |
20.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Peacham and Castleton 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% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.4%±4 VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$90,000±$28kHighest 11% above VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
| Peacham and Walden 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 |
$302,000±$64kHighest 5% below VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
| Peacham and Walden 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 |
$1,028±$248 17% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| Castleton and Peacham 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 |
$5,605Highest 11% above VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Peacham 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% |
10.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Peacham and Walden 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 | Peacham School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.