Compare towns
Appleton vs Windsor vs Castle Hill vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor has the most renters (42.2% rent).
Castle Hill has the most affordable homes ($145k median).
Union has the highest household income ($81k).
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 | Appleton | Windsor | Castle Hill | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
3,554Highest |
281Lowest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
44.8±6.5 15% above U.S. |
57.8±15.8Highest 49% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Castle Hill and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
44.8%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±5.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19k 34% below U.S. |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$54,250±$14k 33% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$207,500±$31k 38% below U.S. |
$145,300±$18kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42kHighest 20% below U.S. |
| Union and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,026±$89 27% below U.S. |
$950±$574Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Union and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$5,209Highest 67% above U.S. |
$1,449Lowest 54% below U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.5%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Castle Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and Appleton 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 | — | #61 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.