What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plattsburgh has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).

Castleton has the most expensive homes ($225k median).

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	Plattsburgh	Castleton
People
Population	11,830Highest	4,453Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.2±1.9Highest 16% above U.S.	38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	19.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%	18.8%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Plattsburgh and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Plattsburgh and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,546±$5kLowest 11% below U.S.	$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below U.S.
	Castleton and Plattsburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$179,900±$11kLowest 46% below U.S.	$224,800±$71kHighest 32% below U.S.
	Castleton and Plattsburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,053±$86Lowest 25% below U.S.	$1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S.
	Castleton and Plattsburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,573Highest 15% above U.S.	$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.9%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Castleton and Plattsburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	79%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 30% below U.S.	19 minHighest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	7.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plattsburgh 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	#153 of 484 in NY	#39 of 70 in VT
School district	BEEKMANTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.