Compare towns
West Haven vs Castleton vs Dresden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Haven has the most people working from home (10.4%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Dresden has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | West Haven | Castleton | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 234Lowest |
4,453Highest |
551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-17.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54±10.5 39% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
59±2.8Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Dresden and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±13.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Haven and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,250±$29kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$64,180±$9kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| West Haven and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$34kHighest 26% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$191,500±$48kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| West Haven 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 20% below U.S. |
$1,066±$109Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,485Highest 44% above U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$3,138Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±48.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| West Haven and Castleton 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 Our Story | 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.