Compare towns
Poultney vs Castleton vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Poultney has the youngest population (median age 34).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Poultney | Castleton | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,010 |
4,453Highest |
1,148Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 34±5.6Lowest 21% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.3%±2.3 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,617±$6kLowest 11% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below VT |
| Wells and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $206,200±$18kLowest 35% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$243,000±$42kHighest 23% below VT |
| Wells and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $913±$84Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
| Wells and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,520Highest 30% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,308 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 24% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #41 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | Poultney High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.