Compare towns
Elmore vs Royalton vs Castleton vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Royalton has the most renters (36.5% rent).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Elmore | Royalton | Castleton | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 964 |
2,752 |
4,453Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45±3.5 4% above VT |
43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
| Worcester and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Royalton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% VT: 43.8% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$24k 22% above VT |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Royalton and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,800±$47kHighest about the VT average |
$263,200±$73k 17% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Elmore and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$263Highest about the VT average |
$1,040±$391 16% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Elmore and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,066Highest about the VT average |
$4,675 7% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 25% above VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Royalton 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 | — | #48 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 | White River Unified School District #79 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | White River Valley High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.