Compare towns
Castleton vs Worcester vs Putney vs Poultney
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).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Putney has the most expensive homes ($300k median).
Poultney has the youngest population (median age 34).
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 | Worcester | Putney | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
831Lowest |
2,622 |
3,010 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-12%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
37.2±5.2 14% below VT |
34±5.6Lowest 21% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
17.8%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Poultney 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% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Poultney 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% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
35.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
9.3%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$72,617±$6kLowest 11% below VT |
| Putney 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 |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$206,200±$18kLowest 35% below VT |
| Putney and Worcester 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 |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$913±$84 26% below VT |
| Castleton and Worcester 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 |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,520 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Putney 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% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
29 minHighest 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #41 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Poultney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.