Compare towns
Alstead vs Castleton vs Williston vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alstead has the oldest housing (typical home built 1973).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
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 | Alstead | Castleton | Williston | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,551 |
4,453 |
10,144Highest |
1,169Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 44% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
58.3±6.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Bridgewater and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bridgewater and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$82,361±$9k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37k 18% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$398,600±$65k 20% above U.S. |
| Williston and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,125±$201Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 71% above U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$2,823Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Alstead 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.