Compare towns
Castleton vs Walden vs Marshfield
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).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Marshfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
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 | Walden | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,037Lowest |
1,863 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
38.7±6.1 10% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.2%±2.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Marshfield 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% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton and Walden 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% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$60,313±$10kLowest 26% below VT |
| Walden and Castleton 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 |
$238,900±$23kHighest 25% below VT |
$214,100±$37kLowest 32% below VT |
| Walden and Castleton 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 |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,317±$126Highest 7% above VT |
| Marshfield 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 |
$3,944Highest 22% below VT |
$3,668 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
65.7%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Marshfield 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% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
9.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
24.5%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Marshfield and Walden 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.