Compare towns
Castleton vs Wilder vs Bolton
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).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Bolton has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Wilder | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
3,087 |
1,163Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+10.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
| Wilder and Castleton 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% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.9%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Bolton 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% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder 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% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
58.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$111,125±$17kHighest 37% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$311,600±$42kHighest about the VT average |
| Bolton and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,299±$273Highest 5% above VT |
| Bolton and Wilder 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 |
$5,505Highest 9% above VT |
$4,826 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
28%±30.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Wilder 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% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
2.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Bolton and Wilder 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 | — | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.