Compare towns
Castleton vs Whiting vs Brighton
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 homeowners (79%).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
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 | Whiting | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
532Lowest |
1,167 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -5.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
45.2±11.6Highest 5% above VT |
| Brighton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Castleton 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% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
| Whiting 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 |
$280,400±$36kHighest 11% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
| Whiting 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 |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
| Whiting 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 |
$4,227Highest 16% below VT |
$3,360 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Whiting 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% |
11.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4% VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brighton and Whiting 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 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Brighton School District |
| 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.