Compare towns
Castleton vs Springfield vs Putnam vs Hyde Park
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).
Springfield has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
Hyde Park has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Springfield | Putnam | Hyde Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
9,084Highest |
540Lowest |
3,000 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest 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. |
41.6±3.9 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hyde Park 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±4.1Lowest 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% |
34.6% 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% |
4.8%±3.4 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. |
$84,375±$9k 5% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Hyde Park 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. |
$198,400±$39k 40% 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. |
— | $1,007±$340 29% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Hyde Park 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. |
$3,883 24% 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% |
38.8%±14.6 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%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% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr 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. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
8.2%±3.8 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 | — | #59 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058B · Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town | Lamoille Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
— | 10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.