Compare towns
Orwell vs Castleton vs Putnam vs Walden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Orwell | Castleton | Putnam | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,294 |
4,453Highest |
540Lowest |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2 25% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Orwell and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$88,000±$15k 9% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$238,900±$23k 28% below U.S. |
| Orwell and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
— | $900±$136Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914 25% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
$3,944Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden and Orwell 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None 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.