Compare towns
Castleton vs Waterbury vs Dummerston
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).
Waterbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Dummerston has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | Waterbury | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453 |
5,405Highest |
2,090Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
| Dummerston and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Waterbury and Dummerston 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% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Castleton 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% |
54.2% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$103,917±$23kHighest 28% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
| Waterbury and Dummerston 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 |
$447,200±$40kHighest 41% above VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
| Dummerston 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 |
$6,435Highest 28% above VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Waterbury 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% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
70.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Waterbury and Dummerston 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 | #20 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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 |
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.