Compare towns
Hampton vs Castleton vs Middlebury vs Smithville
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 most affordable homes ($167k median).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Smithville has the most homeowners (81.7%).
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 | Smithville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,145Lowest |
4,453 |
7,220Highest |
1,525 |
| 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% |
-5.6% 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. |
43.1±3.2Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
8.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Smithville 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%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Castleton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
40.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±5.8 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. |
$70,433±$7kLowest 13% 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±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$417,400±$31kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$173,200±$42k 48% 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. |
$889±$186Lowest 37% 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. |
$4,254 36% above U.S. |
| 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% |
54.9%±31.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Middlebury 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Highest 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. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above 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% |
4.4%±2.6Lowest 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.