Compare towns
Madison vs Castleton vs Eaton
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 the highest household income ($103k).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Eaton has the most people working from home (24.4%).
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 | Eaton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,680 |
4,453Highest |
501Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 50.3±9.7 29% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
59.6±14Highest 53% above U.S. |
| Eaton 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% |
9.6%±5Lowest 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% |
41.3%±15.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eaton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,697±$11kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$79,063±$9k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,700±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$377,300±$62k 13% above U.S. |
| Madison and Eaton 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±$195Lowest 20% 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 | $4,074Highest 31% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,014 29% 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% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 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 | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±12.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eaton 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 | — |
| School district | Madison School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| 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.