Compare towns
Whiting vs Castleton vs Athens vs Stratton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k 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 | Whiting | Castleton | Athens | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532 |
4,453Highest |
431Lowest |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
47.3±6.5Highest 10% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
| Athens and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Athens and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
| Stratton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$240,400±$32k 24% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,125±$537Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
| Stratton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,227 16% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.7% VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 7% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Whiting 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 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | 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 | 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.