Compare towns
Castleton vs Putney vs Wolcott
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
Putney has the most expensive homes ($300k median).
Wolcott has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
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 | Putney | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,622 |
1,507Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
42.4±5.9Highest about the VT average |
| Wolcott and Castleton 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% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.8%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wolcott and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest 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±$23k 9% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
| 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 29% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$221,300±$23kLowest 30% below VT |
| 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 8% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,059±$118 14% below VT |
| Castleton and Wolcott 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 |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,930 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Castleton 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% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
27 minHighest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Putney and Wolcott 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 | Wolcott School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.