Compare towns
Whiting vs Castleton vs Middlesex vs Leicester
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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Leicester has the oldest population (median age 48.8).
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 | Middlesex | Leicester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,943 |
1,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-10%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
48.8±3.8Highest 13% above VT |
| Leicester and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
14.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Leicester 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% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$70,417±$30kLowest 13% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$309,700±$107k about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,098±$300Lowest 11% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,822 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±40.4 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 7% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Leicester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | None 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.