Compare towns
Hampton vs Castleton vs Middlebury vs Nanticoke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 43.1).
Castleton has the most homeowners (79%).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Nanticoke has the most kids (25.6% under 18).
Middlebury is a college town. 40.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hampton | Castleton | Middlebury | Nanticoke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,145Lowest |
4,453 |
7,220Highest |
1,683 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±14.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
23.7±1.3Lowest 39% below U.S. |
41.5±6.4 7% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Nanticoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
8.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.6%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Nanticoke and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nanticoke and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
40.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$86,250±$18kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$69,432±$13kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Middlebury and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $166,800±$10k 50% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$417,400±$31kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$157,100±$32kLowest 53% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,201±$120 15% below U.S. |
$941±$314Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$6,795Highest 118% above U.S. |
$3,171 about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.6%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±37.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Nanticoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlebury and Hampton 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 | #17 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.