What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).

Castleton has the most affordable 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	Salisbury	Castleton
People
Population	1,200Lowest	4,453Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.5%Highest VT: +2.8%	-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	50.6±6.5Highest 17% above VT	38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT
Kids under 18	16.6%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9%	18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9%
	Castleton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4%	20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%	37.9%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7%	19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,688±$21kHighest 23% above VT	$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT
	Salisbury and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$306,900±$51kHighest 3% below VT	$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT
	Salisbury and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT	$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT
	Salisbury and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,842Highest 4% below VT	$3,167Lowest 37% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.9%±22.6Lowest VT: 48.4%	67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4%
	Castleton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1%	12.5%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.7%Highest VT: 73.2%	79%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT	1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 20% below VT	19 minHighest 17% below VT
Work from home	6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9%	6.2%±3.9Highest VT: 16.9%
	Castleton and Salisbury 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	Addison Central Unified Union School District #55	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

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.