Compare towns
Castleton vs Wolcott vs Ryegate
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).
Wolcott has the most people working from home (13.9%).
Ryegate has the most homeowners (84.7%).
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 | Wolcott | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,507 |
1,059Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.4±5.9Highest about the VT average |
41.2±2.6 4% below VT |
| Wolcott and Ryegate 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% |
22.8%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Ryegate and Wolcott 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% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ryegate 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% |
31.1% VT: 43.8% |
29.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$70,259±$10k 13% below VT |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
| Castleton and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kHighest 29% below VT |
$221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
$219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT |
| Castleton and Wolcott 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 |
$1,059±$118 14% below VT |
$908±$236Lowest 26% below VT |
| Castleton and Wolcott 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 |
$3,930Highest 22% below VT |
$3,472 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Castleton 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% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.5% VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Wolcott and Ryegate 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 | Wolcott School District | — |
| High school 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.