Compare towns
Wallingford vs Castleton vs Highgate vs Clarendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wallingford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Clarendon has the shortest commute (16 min average).
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 | Wallingford | Castleton | Highgate | Clarendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,286Lowest |
4,453Highest |
3,528 |
2,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±10.8 6% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
52.3±4.1Highest 21% above VT |
| Clarendon and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±5.1 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+ | 23.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Clarendon and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
25.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.1 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.1%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,230±$15k about the VT average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$59,609±$12kLowest 27% below VT |
| Highgate and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $261,900±$44k 17% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$220,900±$32kLowest 30% below VT |
| Highgate and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,096±$305 11% below VT |
| Castleton and Clarendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,355Highest 14% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,740 26% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±27.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Clarendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
| Work from home | 7.1%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Clarendon 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 | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Mill River Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8Highest |
9.4Lowest |
| 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.