Compare towns

Castleton vs Springfield vs Putnam

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 youngest population (median age 38.3).
Springfield has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Putnam has the highest household income ($92k).

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.

MeasureCastletonSpringfieldPutnam
People
Population
4,453
9,084Highest
540Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.2±3.7
11% above U.S.
53.6±6.4Highest
38% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18.8%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Castleton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.7%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.6%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
35.6%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
$66,571±$13kLowest
18% below U.S.
$92,344±$14kHighest
14% above U.S.
Putnam 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.
$192,400±$20kLowest
42% below U.S.
$266,200±$48kHighest
20% below U.S.
Putnam 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.
$963±$100Lowest
32% below U.S.
—
Castleton and Springfield 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
$4,807Highest
54% above U.S.
$3,674
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
49.6%±15.6
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Springfield 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%
14.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1958Lowest
22 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
27 minHighest
3% above U.S.
21 min
19% below U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.6%±5.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Springfield and Putnam 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 #64 of 70 in VT —
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town None in town Springfield High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.3
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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.