Compare towns
Castleton vs Wheelock vs Chester
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).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.7%).
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 | Wheelock | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
717Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Wheelock and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Wheelock 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% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$64,792±$20k 20% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Castleton and Wheelock 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 |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$232,900±$44kHighest 26% below VT |
| Chester and Castleton 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 |
— | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Castleton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167 37% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$4,262Highest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock and Chester 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| 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.