Compare towns
Swanton vs Castleton vs Proctor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Swanton has the most renters (35.2% rent).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
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 | Swanton | Castleton | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,670 |
4,453Highest |
1,794Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
42.4±6.4Highest about the VT average |
| Proctor and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$74,167±$12kHighest 9% below VT |
| Proctor and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $229,000±$15kHighest 28% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
| Swanton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,238±$103Highest about the VT average |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,029±$202Lowest 17% below VT |
| Swanton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,370Highest 13% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±21.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 24 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 9% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
22 minHighest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 7.4%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Proctor and Swanton 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 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.