Compare towns
Middlesex vs Castleton vs Putnam vs Montpelier
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
Montpelier has the most renters (46.9% rent).
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 | Middlesex | Castleton | Putnam | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
4,453 |
540Lowest |
8,014Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
42.3±2.4 9% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$81,030±$6k about the U.S. average |
| Middlesex and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$375,100±$21k 13% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
— | $1,302±$113 8% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 108% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above 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% |
42.4%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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 | — | #9 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Montpelier High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.4 |
| 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.