Compare towns
Smithville vs Castleton vs McDonough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
McDonough has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Smithville | Castleton | McDonough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,525 |
4,453Highest |
946Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±3.2 11% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.5±1.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Smithville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| McDonough and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
13%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,433±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$68,266±$11kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Smithville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $173,200±$42k 48% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kHighest 32% below U.S. |
$113,100±$40kLowest 66% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Smithville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $889±$186Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$950±$392 33% below U.S. |
| Castleton and McDonough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,254Highest 36% above U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$2,542Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±31.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
81.3%±23.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| McDonough and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±23.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| McDonough and Castleton 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 |
U.S. 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.