Compare towns
Cabot vs Castleton vs Westminster vs Marshfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cabot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($214k median).
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 | Cabot | Castleton | Westminster | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,579Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,999 |
1,863 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.3±6.6 6% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
38.7±6.1 10% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.2%±2.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Cabot and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.7% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,031±$16kHighest 5% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$60,313±$10kLowest 26% below VT |
| Cabot and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,500±$77k 15% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$273,800±$35kHighest 14% below VT |
$214,100±$37kLowest 32% below VT |
| Westminster and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,243±$354 about the VT average |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,317±$126Highest 7% above VT |
| Marshfield and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,639Highest 8% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,063 19% below VT |
$3,668 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±26.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
65.7%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 27% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
29 min 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
24.5%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Marshfield 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 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | — |
| High school 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 | 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.