Compare towns
Union vs Castleton vs Appleton vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($195k 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 | Union | Castleton | Appleton | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
4,453Highest |
1,360Lowest |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
48.2±6.7 24% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
17.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,724±$9kHighest about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$59,861±$17k 26% below U.S. |
| Union and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$195,200±$36kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Union and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,036±$322Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Union and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276 5% above U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$2,286Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±62.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and Washington 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 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.