Compare towns
Vernon vs Castleton vs Wallingford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vernon has the most expensive homes ($285k median).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Wallingford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
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 | Vernon | Castleton | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,709 |
4,453Highest |
2,286Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.9±10.8Highest 6% above VT |
| Wallingford and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wallingford and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
| Vernon and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$261,900±$44k 17% below VT |
| Vernon and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$214 17% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
| Castleton and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,191Highest 3% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,355 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±3.7 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
82.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 14% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.4%±3.1 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Wallingford 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 | #30 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Vernon School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| 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 |
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.