Compare towns

Middlefield vs Castleton vs Peru vs Tolland

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 oldest population (median age 56.9).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Peru has the most homeowners (98.2%).
Tolland has the most expensive homes ($356k median).

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.

MeasureMiddlefieldCastletonPeruTolland
People
Population
352Lowest
4,453Highest
630
540
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%
—
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.
51.7±7.2
33% 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%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
17.8%±5.5
U.S.: 22%
Castleton and Tolland 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%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.7%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±4.1
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
28%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$103,750±$23k
29% above U.S.
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below U.S.
$90,750±$18k
12% above U.S.
$106,250±$10kHighest
32% above U.S.
Tolland and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$332,800±$48k
about the U.S. average
$224,800±$71kLowest
32% below U.S.
$267,400±$15k
20% below U.S.
$355,700±$22kHighest
7% above U.S.
Tolland and Middlefield 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±$195Lowest
20% 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.
$3,167
about the U.S. average
$3,805
22% above U.S.
$2,714Lowest
13% below 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%
0%±100Lowest
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%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.3%
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%
94.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr 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.
38 minHighest
45% 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%
12.5%±5.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Middlefield and Tolland 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.