Compare towns
Castleton vs Waterville vs Franklin
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).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Franklin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Waterville | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
680Lowest |
1,590 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
| Waterville and Franklin 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% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Waterville 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% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average |
| Franklin 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±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$247,400±$66kHighest 22% below VT |
| Franklin and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
| Castleton and Waterville 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 |
$3,957Highest 21% below VT |
$3,384 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Franklin 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% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| 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.