Compare towns
Burke vs Castleton vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burke has the most expensive homes ($341k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
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 | Burke | Castleton | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,317Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.1±4.8 5% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 23%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Burke and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,143±$17kHighest 7% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
| Burke and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,600±$18kHighest 8% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $938±$191 24% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
| Castleton and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,177Highest about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,063 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.6%±31Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Burke and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 8% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.4%±6.8 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Burke 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 | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.