Compare towns
Castleton vs Walden vs Middlebury
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 kids (18.8% under 18).
Walden has the oldest population (median age 48.8).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Middlebury is a college town. 40.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Middlebury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453 |
1,037Lowest |
7,220Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+10.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
23.7±1.3Lowest 45% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Walden 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% |
19.8%±2.6Lowest 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% |
61.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
40.9%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$86,250±$18k 6% above VT |
| Walden and Middlebury 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 |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
$417,400±$31kHighest 32% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,201±$120Highest about the VT average |
| Middlebury 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 |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$6,795Highest 35% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.6%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
56.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
26 minHighest 10% above VT |
15 minLowest 38% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Middlebury 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 | — | #17 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 History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.