Compare towns
Waterford vs Castleton vs St. Johnsbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
St. Johnsbury has the most renters (40.4% rent).
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 | Waterford | Castleton | St. Johnsbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,279Lowest |
4,453 |
7,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±5.3Highest 5% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.8±3.8 about the VT average |
| Waterford and St. Johnsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
21%±2.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| St. Johnsbury and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Waterford and St. Johnsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.6%±2.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,375±$19kHighest 35% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$57,738±$9kLowest 29% below VT |
| Waterford and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,500±$22kHighest 14% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$177,700±$17kLowest 44% below VT |
| Waterford and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$914±$44Lowest 26% below VT |
| Castleton and St. Johnsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,238Highest 16% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,916 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
48%±11Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and St. Johnsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 99%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
59.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1944Lowest 32 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 4% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
20 min 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.3%±7.8 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| St. Johnsbury and Waterford 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 | #60 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school 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.