Compare towns
Middlefield vs Castleton vs Peru vs Washington
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 highest household income ($104k).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Peru has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.9%).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($371k 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.
| Measure | Middlefield | Castleton | Peru | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 352Lowest |
4,453Highest |
630 |
526 |
| 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. |
56.5±7.7 45% above U.S. |
| Middlefield and Washington 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% |
13.3%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Peru 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%±6.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Peru 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% 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% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest 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. |
$95,278±$12k 18% above U.S. |
| Middlefield and Washington 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. |
$370,700±$32kHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Washington 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. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,805 22% above U.S. |
$4,381 40% 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% |
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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%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% |
92.5% 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. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below 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% |
12.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlefield and Washington 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.