Compare towns
Stratton vs Hampton vs Castleton vs Wardsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Wardsboro has the most people working from home (13.3%).
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 | Hampton | Castleton | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532Lowest |
1,145 |
4,453Highest |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 31.5±4.1Lowest 19% below U.S. |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
51.6±7.3Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Wardsboro and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wardsboro and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,708±$33kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$62,000±$6kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Stratton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$50kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$299,300±$47k 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$979 15% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375 11% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,479±$224Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Wardsboro and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,750Highest 52% above U.S. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$4,345 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±58 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wardsboro and Hampton 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.