Compare towns
Castleton vs Reading vs Woodstock
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).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Woodstock has the most expensive homes ($582k median).
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 | Reading | Woodstock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
699Lowest |
3,027 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
56±3.6Highest 30% above VT |
| Woodstock and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
32.7%±5.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Woodstock and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
52.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$120,938±$29kHighest 49% above VT |
| Woodstock and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$582,000±$84kHighest 84% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,430±$346Highest 16% above VT |
| Woodstock and Castleton 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 |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$9,449Highest 88% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
44.7%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
69.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
32.8%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Woodstock and Reading 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 | — | #10 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Woodstock Union Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.5 |
| 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.