Compare towns
Hampton vs Putney vs Castleton 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).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Smithville has the most homeowners (81.7%).
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 | Putney | Castleton | Smithville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,145Lowest |
2,622 |
4,453Highest |
1,525 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±14.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
43.1±3.2Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest 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% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Highest 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% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$70,433±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Putney 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. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$173,200±$42k 48% below U.S. |
| Putney 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. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$889±$186 37% 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. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$4,254 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest 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% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 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 |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.