Compare towns
Castleton vs Poultney vs Rockingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-5.5%).
Poultney has the youngest population (median age 34).
Rockingham has the most people working from home (17.9%).
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 | Poultney | Rockingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453 |
3,010Lowest |
4,807Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-12%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-8.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
34±5.6Lowest 21% below VT |
46.4±2.6Highest 8% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.8%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Rockingham and Castleton 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% |
22.8%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rockingham 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% |
35.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
9.3%±2.3 VT: 7% |
6.1%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$72,617±$6k 11% below VT |
$70,857±$16kLowest 13% 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 |
$206,200±$18kLowest 35% below VT |
$210,900±$14k 33% below VT |
| Castleton and Rockingham 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 |
$1,062±$101 14% below VT |
| Castleton and Rockingham 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 |
$3,520 30% below VT |
$4,887Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.7%±13.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Rockingham 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% |
8.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.3% VT: 73.2% |
61.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
29 minHighest 24% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rockingham 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 | #65 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Rockingham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Poultney High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.5 |
— |
| 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.