Compare towns
St. Johnsbury vs Castleton vs Rockingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
St. Johnsbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).
Castleton has the most homeowners (79%).
Rockingham has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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 | St. Johnsbury | Castleton | Rockingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,368Highest |
4,453Lowest |
4,807 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-8.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.8 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
46.4±2.6Highest 8% above VT |
| Rockingham and St. Johnsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±2.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
| St. Johnsbury and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
6.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,738±$9kLowest 29% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$70,857±$16k 13% below VT |
| Castleton and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $177,700±$17kLowest 44% below VT |
$224,800±$71kHighest 29% below VT |
$210,900±$14k 33% below VT |
| Castleton and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $914±$44Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,062±$101 14% below VT |
| Castleton and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,916 22% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,887Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±11 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.7%±13.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and St. Johnsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
61.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944 32 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 17% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
20 minHighest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rockingham and St. Johnsbury 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 | #60 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | #65 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Rockingham School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.