Compare towns

Mapleton vs Castleton vs Royalton vs Union

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Royalton has the most renters (36.5% rent).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).

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.

MeasureMapletonCastletonRoyaltonUnion
People
Population
1,884Lowest
4,453Highest
2,752
2,663
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±6
7% above U.S.
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.9±10.1Highest
13% above U.S.
41.6±5.3
7% above U.S.
Royalton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.2%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±6.4
U.S.: 22%
14.4%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24.9%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Union and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.3%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.4%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Royalton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
42.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
8%±4.2
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$91,731±$25k
14% above U.S.
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below U.S.
$103,938±$24kHighest
29% above U.S.
$80,724±$9k
about the U.S. average
Royalton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$191,800±$23kLowest
42% below U.S.
$224,800±$71k
32% below U.S.
$263,200±$73k
21% below U.S.
$267,600±$42kHighest
20% below U.S.
Union and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$610±$277Lowest
57% below U.S.
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
$1,040±$391
26% below U.S.
$1,179±$452Highest
17% below U.S.
Union and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,789Lowest
43% below U.S.
$3,167
about the U.S. average
$4,675Highest
50% above U.S.
$3,276
5% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
16.7%±10.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
36.7%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
24.6%±19.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
13%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
63.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
5% above U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
20 min
23% below U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
Work from home
10.8%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±7.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.9%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Royalton and Union 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 #48 of 70 in VT —
School district RSU 79/MSAD 01 Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 White River Unified School District #79 RSU 40/MSAD 40
High school in town None in town None in town White River Valley High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school — —
8.7
—
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.