Compare towns
Hampton vs Castleton vs Wardsboro 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 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.
| Measure | Hampton | Castleton | Wardsboro | Smithville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,145 |
4,453Highest |
820Lowest |
1,525 |
| 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% |
-5.6% 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. |
43.1±3.2 11% 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% |
16.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±3.7Lowest 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% |
19.4% 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% |
5.8%±5.8 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. |
$70,433±$7k 13% 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. |
$173,200±$42k 48% 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±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,479±$224Highest 5% above U.S. |
$889±$186Lowest 37% below 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. |
$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% |
54.5%±58 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±31.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Smithville 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% |
11.2% 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% |
81.7% 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. |
1977 3 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 min about the U.S. average |
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% |
13.3%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.4%±2.6Lowest 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 | 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.