Compare towns

Castleton vs Putney vs Dresden

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 the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Dresden has the oldest population (median age 59).

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.

MeasureCastletonPutneyDresden
People
Population
4,453Highest
2,622
551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-17.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3
about the U.S. average
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
59±2.8Highest
52% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18.8%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
13.1%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Castleton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.7%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.9%±4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Dresden and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.8%±3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
$79,706±$18kHighest
about the U.S. average
$64,180±$9kLowest
21% below U.S.
Putney 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.
$300,000±$44kHighest
10% below U.S.
$191,500±$48kLowest
42% below U.S.
Putney 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.
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,066±$109
25% below U.S.
Castleton and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,167
about the U.S. average
$5,313Highest
70% above U.S.
$3,138Lowest
about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4
U.S.: 51.1%
41.4%±48.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
27% below U.S.
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
1%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #39 of 70 in VT #32 of 70 in VT —
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.