Compare towns
Reading vs Castleton vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
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 | Reading | Castleton | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699 |
4,453Highest |
666Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
| Grafton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
7.1%±5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
| Reading and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$343,200±$85k 8% above VT |
| Reading and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT |
| Grafton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,843 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Grafton 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Athens Grafton School District |
| 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 |
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.