What stands out worked out from the figures below

Petersburgh has the oldest population (median age 51.3).

Castleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-5.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Petersburgh	Castleton
People
Population	1,310Lowest	4,453Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.3±6.3Highest 32% above U.S.	38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	16%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Castleton and Petersburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Petersburgh and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,692±$15kHighest 4% below U.S.	$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S.
	Petersburgh and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$170,300±$23kLowest 49% below U.S.	$224,800±$71kHighest 32% below U.S.
	Castleton and Petersburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,100±$630Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S.
	Castleton and Petersburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,223Highest 3% above U.S.	$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.2%±42.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Castleton and Petersburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 13% above U.S.	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	8.3%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Petersburgh and Castleton 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
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.