Compare towns
Vernon vs Castleton vs Wallingford vs Wolcott
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 youngest population (median age 38.3).
Wallingford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Wolcott has the most people working from home (13.9%).
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 | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,709 |
4,453Highest |
2,286 |
1,507Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% 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 |
42.4±5.9 about the VT average |
| 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%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
22.8%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wolcott and Castleton 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%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest 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% |
31.1% 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% |
3.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
| 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±$71k 29% below VT |
$261,900±$44k 17% below VT |
$221,300±$23kLowest 30% 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 |
$1,059±$118 14% below VT |
| Castleton and Wolcott 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 |
$3,930 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±3.7 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
82.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 14% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
27 minHighest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.4%±3.1 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Wolcott and Wallingford 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 | Wolcott School District |
| 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 |
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.