Compare towns
Castleton vs Stratton vs Putnam vs Hyde Park
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).
Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k median).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
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 | Stratton | Putnam | Hyde Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
532Lowest |
540 |
3,000 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
31.5±4.1Lowest 19% below U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
41.6±3.9 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratton and Hyde Park 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$122,708±$33kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$84,375±$9k 5% above U.S. |
| Stratton and Putnam 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. |
$400,000±$50kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$198,400±$39kLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,208±$979Highest 15% below U.S. |
— | $1,007±$340Lowest 29% below U.S. |
| Stratton 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 |
$4,750Highest 52% above U.S. |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
$3,883 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±69.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.2%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putnam and Hyde Park 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 | — | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058B · Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Lamoille Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.0 |
| 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.