Compare towns
Waitsfield vs Castleton vs Thetford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waitsfield has the most people working from home (19%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Thetford has the most homeowners (84.1%).
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 | Waitsfield | Castleton | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,918Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,813 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.3Highest about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
43.6±6.2 about the VT average |
| Waitsfield and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.8%±6 VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
68%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±3Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
6.7%±4.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$34k 4% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$88,045±$16kHighest 8% above VT |
| Thetford and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$329,500±$96k 4% above VT |
| Waitsfield and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$821Highest about the VT average |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,141±$96 8% below VT |
| Waitsfield and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,208 23% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,948Highest 38% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±30.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.7%±30.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 19%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.6%±6.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Waitsfield and Thetford 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 | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Thetford School District |
| High school in town | None 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.