Compare towns
Middlefield vs Castleton vs Peru vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlefield has the most people working from home (13.2%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Peru has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.9%).
Chester has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
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 | Middlefield | Castleton | Peru | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 352Lowest |
4,453Highest |
630 |
1,240 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -26.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.9±3.7Highest 46% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
52.6±4.8 35% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7 18% above U.S. |
| Middlefield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 4.5%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chester and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.7%±8.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Peru and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±4.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,750±$23kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$90,750±$18k 12% above U.S. |
$89,390±$6k 11% above U.S. |
| Middlefield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,800±$48kHighest about the U.S. average |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$267,400±$15k 20% below U.S. |
$281,900±$14k 15% below U.S. |
| Middlefield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,625±$1kHighest 86% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
— | $1,104±$71Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Middlefield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,926Highest 58% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,805 22% above U.S. |
$4,522 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±22.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middlefield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.2%±9.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlefield and Peru 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 | — | Gateway |
| High school in town | — | None 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.