Compare towns
Stratton vs Castleton vs Highgate vs Wardsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Wardsboro has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
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 | Stratton | Castleton | Highgate | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532Lowest |
4,453Highest |
3,528 |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wardsboro and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
| Stratton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$4,345 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 39% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Wardsboro 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 | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.