Compare towns
Whitingham vs Castleton vs Middlebury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whitingham has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Whitingham | Castleton | Middlebury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,368Lowest |
4,453 |
9,175Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±7.1Highest 8% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
| Whitingham and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Whitingham and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$86,169±$16kHighest 6% above VT |
| Middlebury and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,156±$113Highest 6% below VT |
| Middlebury and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,055 about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
10.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 62% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
| Work from home | 9.7%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlebury and Whitingham 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 | #17 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town | Middlebury Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.8Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
| 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.