Compare towns
Ryegate vs Castleton vs Groton vs Wells River
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ryegate has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Groton has the most people working from home (12.3%).
Wells River has the most renters (52.1% rent).
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 | Ryegate | Castleton | Groton | Wells River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,059 |
4,453Highest |
967 |
340Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 41.2±2.6 4% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.7±5.8Highest 6% above VT |
42.7±12.7 about the VT average |
| Groton and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Ryegate and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±1.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ryegate and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
38.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7 VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,484±$15k 18% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$77,250±$14kHighest 5% below VT |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
| Groton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $219,300±$32k 31% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$243,000±$70kHighest 23% below VT |
$170,800±$103kLowest 46% below VT |
| Groton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$236 26% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
$900±$336 27% below VT |
| Castleton and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,472 31% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,659 27% below VT |
$4,154Highest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.6%±14.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.5% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
6.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1949 27 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
30 min 29% above VT |
34 minHighest 43% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.2%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Groton and Ryegate 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 History | None yet | 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.