Compare towns
Swanton vs Castleton vs Vernon
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 kids (24.3% under 18).
Castleton has the most homeowners (79%).
Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
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 | Swanton | Castleton | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,670Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
42.6±5.4Highest about the VT average |
| Vernon 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%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton and Castleton 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% |
22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Vernon 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% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
| Vernon 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±$15k 28% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,238±$103Highest about the VT average |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,023±$214Lowest 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 | $4,370 13% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±21.6 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Swanton 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% VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minHighest 9% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 7.4%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Swanton and Vernon 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 | #30 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Vernon 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.