Compare towns
Castleton vs Townshend vs Middlesex
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
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 | Townshend | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,538Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Townshend and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex and Townshend 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 |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
| Middlesex and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$5,364 6% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest 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 |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Townshend 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.1 |
— |
| 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.