Compare towns
Colchester vs Castleton vs South Hero
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colchester has the most renters (25.9% rent).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
South Hero has the most expensive homes ($558k 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 | Colchester | Castleton | South Hero |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,648Highest |
4,453 |
1,586Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.4 9% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
51.5±4.8Highest 19% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±2.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.8%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Colchester and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
26.5%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| South Hero and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.8% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
61.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±1.3 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,891±$9k 21% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$127,434±$15kHighest 57% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$25k 25% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$558,300±$46kHighest 76% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$122Highest 19% above VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,439±$221 17% above VT |
| Colchester and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,471 9% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$7,858Highest 56% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.2%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
32.6%±21Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
85.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 15% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 minHighest 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.3%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| South Hero and Colchester 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 | #18 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Colchester School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | South Hero School District |
| High school in town | Colchester High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 5 photos → |
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.