Compare towns
Castleton vs Ira vs Williamstown vs Windsor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Williamstown has the most people working from home (13.9%).
Windsor has the most renters (42.2% rent).
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 | Castleton | Ira | Williamstown | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
381Lowest |
3,579 |
3,554 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
42±5 about the VT average |
44.8±6.5 4% above VT |
| Ira and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
| Williamstown and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
$207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
| Ira and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$1,026±$89 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
$5,209Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
7.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
23 min 3% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Williamstown and Windsor 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 | — | #47 of 70 in VT | #61 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Williamstown Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
— |
| 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.