Compare towns
Castleton vs Worcester vs Wheelock
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).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.4%).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k 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 | Worcester | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
831 |
717Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
| Wheelock and Worcester 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock 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% |
34.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
| Castleton and Worcester 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±$27kHighest 14% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
| Worcester 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 |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% 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 | $3,167 37% below VT |
$4,421Highest 12% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Worcester 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% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Wheelock 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| 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.