Compare towns
Middlesex vs Chester vs Castleton vs Montpelier
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
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 | Chester | Castleton | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
2,992 |
4,453 |
8,014Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.3±2.4 about the VT average |
| Chester 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 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$81,030±$6k about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$375,100±$21k 18% above VT |
| 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 8% above VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,302±$113 6% above VT |
| 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 29% above VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | #9 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | Montpelier High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
— | 10.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.