Compare towns
Wilder vs Castleton vs Putney vs Waterbury
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%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
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 | Castleton | Putney | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087 |
4,453 |
2,622Lowest |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
| Wilder and Waterbury 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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterbury 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%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Castleton 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% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
54.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$103,917±$23kHighest 28% above VT |
| Waterbury and Putney 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$447,200±$40kHighest 41% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Highest 7% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,027±$535 17% below VT |
| Wilder and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505 9% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$6,435Highest 28% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Putney 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
70.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
18 min 24% below VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waterbury and Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.