Compare towns

Castleton vs Steep Falls vs Poultney

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).
Steep Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Poultney has the most people working from home (11.3%).

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.

MeasureCastletonSteep FallsPoultney
People
Population
4,453Highest
1,861Lowest
3,010
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-12%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3
about the U.S. average
44.1±6.5Highest
13% above U.S.
34±5.6Lowest
13% below U.S.
Steep Falls and Castleton 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%
22.9%±9.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.8%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Steep Falls 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%
9.7%±5.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.8%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Poultney 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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
14.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
9.3%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
$80,280±$33kHighest
about the U.S. average
$72,617±$6kLowest
10% below U.S.
Steep Falls 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.
$243,400±$31kHighest
27% below U.S.
$206,200±$18kLowest
38% below U.S.
Steep Falls and Castleton 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.
$1,516±$1kHighest
7% above U.S.
$913±$84Lowest
35% below U.S.
Steep Falls and Castleton 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
$3,273
5% above U.S.
$3,520Highest
13% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
66.4%±36.1
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±17.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Steep Falls 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%
7.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1970
10 yrs older than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
31 minHighest
16% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
4%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.3%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Poultney 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 — #41 of 70 in VT
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 — Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70
High school in town None in town — Poultney High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.5
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.