Compare towns
Wilder vs Arlington vs Castleton vs Royalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Royalton has the highest household income ($104k).
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 | Wilder | Arlington | Castleton | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087 |
2,598Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,752 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+6% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
| Wilder and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$102,308±$11k 26% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
| Royalton and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$318,500±$59kHighest about the VT average |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$263,200±$73k 17% below VT |
| Arlington and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,040±$391Lowest 16% below VT |
| Arlington and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505Highest 9% above VT |
$4,549 10% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,675 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
63.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
20 minHighest 13% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
20 minHighest 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Royalton 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 | — | #50 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Arlington School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | — | Arlington Memorial | None in town | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.