Compare towns
Gray vs Castleton vs Royalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gray has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Royalton has the most people working from home (17.8%).
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 | Gray | Castleton | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,429Highest |
4,453 |
2,752Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.9±10.1Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Royalton and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gray and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$103,938±$24kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Royalton and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,700±$20kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$263,200±$73k 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,040±$391Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Gray and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,683 18% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,675Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
63.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Royalton and Gray 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | #39 of 70 in VT | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.