Compare towns
Hampton vs Castleton vs Rochester
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Hampton | Castleton | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,145Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.3±7.6Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Rochester and Hampton 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%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
49%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$72,676±$8kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Hampton 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. |
$253,600±$81kHighest 24% below U.S. |
| Rochester and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$929±$158Lowest 34% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Castleton 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 |
$3,977Highest 28% 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% |
62.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rochester 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 | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.