Compare towns
Danby vs Castleton vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danby has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Danby | Castleton | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,133Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
| Danby and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13kHighest 5% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Danby and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41kHighest 14% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Danby and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
| Wells and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543Highest 10% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,308 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Danby and Wells 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None 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.