Compare towns
Castleton vs Springfield vs Walpole vs St. Albans
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%).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
St. Albans has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.5%).
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 | Walpole | St. Albans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
9,084Highest |
3,690Lowest |
7,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
41.3±2.8 6% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and St. Albans 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% |
25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walpole and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.6% 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% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±4.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
$90,060±$19kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| St. Albans and Walpole 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. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
$363,300±$22kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| St. Albans and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$963±$100Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
$1,460±$152Highest 3% above U.S. |
| St. Albans and Walpole 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 |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
$4,689 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.6%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| St. Albans and Castleton 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% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
27 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% |
7.2%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Springfield and St. Albans 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 | #27 of 120 in NH | #46 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— | — |
| 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.