Compare towns
Woodstock vs Castleton vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Woodstock has the most expensive homes ($582k median).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Woodstock | Castleton | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,027 |
4,453Highest |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56±3.6Highest 30% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
| Woodstock and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 32.7%±5.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Woodstock and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $120,938±$29kHighest 49% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
| Woodstock and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $582,000±$84kHighest 84% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,430±$346Highest 16% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
| Woodstock and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,449Highest 88% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.7%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 7% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 32.8%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Woodstock and Reading 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 | #10 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | Woodstock Union Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.