Compare towns

Hampton vs Castleton vs Wardsboro

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).
Wardsboro has the most people working from home (13.3%).

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.

MeasureHamptonCastletonWardsboro
People
Population
1,145
4,453Highest
820Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-8.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±14.7
11% above U.S.
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
51.6±7.3Highest
33% above U.S.
Wardsboro and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.9%±6.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
20.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
27.4%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Wardsboro 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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
38.9%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%
0.9%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,796±$8k
9% below U.S.
$73,854±$23kHighest
9% below U.S.
$62,000±$6kLowest
23% 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.
$299,300±$47kHighest
10% below U.S.
Wardsboro and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,264±$375
11% below U.S.
$1,137±$195Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,479±$224Highest
5% above U.S.
Wardsboro and Hampton 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
$4,345Highest
39% 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%
54.5%±58
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Wardsboro 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%
7.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 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
about the U.S. average
Work from home
7.8%±8.4
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.3%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Wardsboro 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 River Valleys Unified School District #73
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.