Compare towns
Castleton vs Strafford vs Worcester vs St. Albans
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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Strafford | Worcester | St. Albans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
1,372 |
831Lowest |
7,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+16.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
41.3±2.8 4% below VT |
| Strafford and Worcester 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% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.8%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford and St. Albans 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% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
33.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
8.1%±4.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$90,060±$19k 11% above VT |
| Strafford and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$363,300±$22k 15% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,460±$152Highest 18% above VT |
| St. Albans 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$4,689 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.6%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.7%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | — | — | #46 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Strafford School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| 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 | 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.