Compare towns
Walden vs Castleton vs Colrain
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Colrain has the most expensive homes ($284k 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 | Walden | Castleton | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,037Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 25% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,000±$15kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Walden and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,900±$23k 28% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944 26% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,317Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mohawk Trail |
| 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 |
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.