Compare towns
Wilder vs Castleton vs Underhill vs Cambridge
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).
Underhill has the most people working from home (19.4%).
Cambridge has the youngest population (median age 37.4).
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 | Underhill | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087Lowest |
4,453Highest |
3,141 |
3,767 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+4.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
38.1±11.4 12% below VT |
37.4±1.8Lowest 13% below VT |
| Wilder and Castleton 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% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
23%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Cambridge 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% |
17.6%±6 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest 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% |
50.1% VT: 43.8% |
50.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$92,267±$54kHighest 14% above VT |
$72,344±$19kLowest 11% below VT |
| Underhill and Wilder 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 |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$343,000±$38k 8% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
— | $1,183±$66Highest 4% below VT |
| Cambridge and Wilder 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 |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$4,910 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.6%±7.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Cambridge 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
79.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
32 min 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Underhill and Wilder 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 | #2 of 70 in VT | #25 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Cambridge School District |
| 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.