Compare towns
Castleton vs Stockbridge vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Stockbridge has the most people working from home (28.6%).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
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 | Stockbridge | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
791Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
55.3±5.3Highest 28% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| Stockbridge and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
9.9%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.9%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Stockbridge and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
35%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$77,109±$12k 5% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$283,500±$26k 10% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,140±$126Highest 8% below VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| Stockbridge and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,488 11% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.3%±22 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.6%±12.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Stockbridge and Strafford 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 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.