Compare towns
Sandgate vs Castleton vs Middlebury vs Rupert
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Middlebury has the youngest population (median age 23.7).
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Middlebury is a college town. 40.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Sandgate | Castleton | Middlebury | Rupert |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
4,453 |
7,220Highest |
676 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4 29% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
23.7±1.3Lowest 45% below VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
| Rupert and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rupert and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.8% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
61.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
40.9%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$86,250±$18k 6% above VT |
$88,229±$36kHighest 9% above VT |
| Rupert and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$417,400±$31kHighest 32% above VT |
$362,500±$63k 14% above VT |
| Middlebury and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,201±$120Highest about the VT average |
— |
| Middlebury and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$3,167 37% below VT |
$6,795Highest 35% above VT |
$4,594 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.6%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
15.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
56.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 17 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
15 minLowest 38% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Middlebury 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 | #17 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 | 6 photos → | 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.