Compare towns
Wells River vs Castleton vs Woodsville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells River has the most affordable homes ($171k median).
Castleton has the most homeowners (79%).
Woodsville has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
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 | Wells River | Castleton | Woodsville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 340Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,422 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±12.7Highest 10% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
32±10.4Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Wells River and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±10.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Woodsville and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.3%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Castleton and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.8%±10 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Castleton and Woodsville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $38,688±$5kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$57,946±$27k 28% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Woodsville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $170,800±$103kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$228,000±$15kHighest 31% below U.S. |
| Woodsville and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$336Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,119±$68 21% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Woodsville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,154 33% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,425Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±14.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.5%±29.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Woodsville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 38.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
40.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.2%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Castleton and Wells River 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 | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school 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.