Compare towns
Sutton vs Reading vs Castleton vs Wheelock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k median).
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 | Sutton | Reading | Castleton | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
699Lowest |
4,453Highest |
717 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
51±5.6 18% above VT |
| Reading and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
| Reading and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
— |
| Castleton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,975 21% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,167 37% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Wheelock 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.