Compare towns
Madison vs Castleton vs Conway
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madison has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Conway has the most people working from home (13.4%).
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 | Madison | Castleton | Conway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,680Lowest |
4,453 |
10,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±9.7 29% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
55±4.1Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Conway and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
12.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Madison and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.1%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,697±$11kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$64,385±$8kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Madison and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,700±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$314,000±$43k 6% below U.S. |
| Madison and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,556±$256Highest 10% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,095±$141Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Madison and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,074 31% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,087Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.3%±13.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Madison and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 16% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Conway and Madison 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 | #76 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Madison School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Conway School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kennett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7 |
| 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.