Compare towns

Montgomery vs Hampton vs Castleton vs Dover

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).

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.

MeasureMontgomeryHamptonCastletonDover
People
Population
1,047Lowest
1,145
4,453Highest
1,466
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-8.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+60%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.5±11.3
32% above U.S.
43.1±14.7
11% above U.S.
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
53.5±8.3Highest
38% above U.S.
Dover and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.5%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
15.9%±6.9
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
10.2%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Castleton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
33.9%±8.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
29.5%±6.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Montgomery and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
15.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±3.2
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$53,289±$24k
34% below U.S.
$73,796±$8k
9% below U.S.
$73,854±$23kHighest
9% below U.S.
$52,313±$7kLowest
35% below U.S.
Castleton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$323,200±$45k
about the U.S. average
$166,800±$10kLowest
50% below U.S.
$224,800±$71k
32% below U.S.
$332,900±$55kHighest
about the U.S. average
Dover and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$868±$209
39% below U.S.
$1,264±$375Highest
11% below U.S.
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
$670±$49Lowest
53% below U.S.
Hampton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,326
39% above U.S.
$3,007Lowest
4% below U.S.
$3,167
about the U.S. average
$4,510Highest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
76.6%±68Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
13.2%±25.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
67.7%±21.9
U.S.: 51.1%
38.1%±17.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Montgomery and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
15.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
16.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
22 min
17% below U.S.
Work from home
16%±5.9
U.S.: 15.1%
7.8%±8.4
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.2%±11.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dover and Montgomery 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 Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 — Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 River Valleys Unified School District #73
High school in town None 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.