Compare towns
Castleton vs Putney vs Peacham
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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Peacham has the most people working from home (24.2%).
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 | Putney | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,622 |
887Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
50.1±5.7Highest 16% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6Highest 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.4%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
| 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±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$90,000±$28kHighest 11% above VT |
| Peacham and Putney 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 |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$302,000±$64kHighest 5% below VT |
| Peacham and Putney 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 |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,028±$248 17% 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 |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$5,605Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7 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% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
76.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Peacham and Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Peacham School District |
| 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.