Compare towns
Castleton vs Ripton vs Smithville
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Smithville has the most affordable homes ($173k 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 | Ripton | Smithville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
508Lowest |
1,525 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
43.1±3.2 11% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Smithville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Smithville 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ripton 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. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$70,433±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$173,200±$42kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
— | $889±$186Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Smithville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$4,254 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±31.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Smithville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Castleton 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 | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.