Compare towns
Mansfield vs Castleton vs Exeter vs Hope
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mansfield has the highest household income ($83k).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Exeter has the most people working from home (14.4%).
Hope has the oldest housing (typical home built 1967).
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 | Mansfield | Castleton | Exeter | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 691 |
4,453Highest |
913 |
587Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
50.3±8.5 29% above U.S. |
| Mansfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±10.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,304±$14kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$72,188±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Mansfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $200,000±$29kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$211,300±$106k 36% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,225±$217Highest 13% below U.S. |
| Hope and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,122Highest 32% above U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$2,926 6% below U.S. |
$2,551Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±98.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±12.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Mansfield 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 | — | — |
| High school 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.