Compare towns
Otis vs Castleton vs Oakham vs Sandisfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
Sandisfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
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 | Otis | Castleton | Oakham | Sandisfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,624 |
4,453Highest |
1,639 |
994Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±3.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
49.9±7.5 28% above U.S. |
| Otis and Sandisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
14%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±5.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.8%±4.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,898±$6kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$91,111±$23k 13% above U.S. |
| Otis and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,700±$40k 19% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$360,300±$34k 8% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,318±$924Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,250±$220 12% below U.S. |
| Otis and Sandisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$4,103Highest 32% above U.S. |
$3,328 7% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Sandisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Otis and Sandisfield 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 | Farmington River Reg | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Quabbin | — |
| 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.