Compare towns
Castleton vs Stowe vs Middlesex vs Hyde Park
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).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Hyde Park has the most affordable homes ($198k median).
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 | Stowe | Middlesex | Hyde Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
5,285Highest |
1,943Lowest |
3,000 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
46.3±7.6Highest 7% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
41.6±3.9 3% below VT |
| Stowe and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
20%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
18.7%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe 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% VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$84,375±$9k 4% above VT |
| Middlesex and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$198,400±$39kLowest 37% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,007±$340Lowest 18% below VT |
| Stowe and Middlesex 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 |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$3,883 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Hyde Park 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Stowe 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 | — | — | #59 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Stowe Town School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058B · Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | Stowe High School | None in town | Lamoille Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3Highest |
— | 10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.