Compare towns
Castleton vs Petersburgh vs Pownal
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-5.5%).
Petersburgh has the most affordable homes ($170k median).
Pownal has the most people working from home (16.4%).
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 | Petersburgh | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,310Lowest |
3,265 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.3±6.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
49±9.1 26% above U.S. |
| Petersburgh and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pownal and Petersburgh 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$77,692±$15kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$64,163±$21kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Petersburgh 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±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$170,300±$23kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$256,600±$32kHighest 23% below U.S. |
| Pownal and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,100±$630 22% below U.S. |
$944±$139Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Petersburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,223 3% above U.S. |
$3,560Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.2%±42.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pownal and Petersburgh 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 | — | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.