Compare towns
Castleton vs Monkton vs Westford
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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
Monkton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Westford has the most expensive homes ($425k 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 | Castleton | Monkton | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,999Lowest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47.1±5.4Highest 9% above VT |
44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
| Monkton and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Monkton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton and Monkton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
50% VT: 43.8% |
52.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$119,688±$28kHighest 47% above VT |
$112,750±$12k 39% above VT |
| Monkton and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$379,900±$18k 20% above VT |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,301±$120 5% above VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
| Westford and Monkton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,887 17% above VT |
$6,282Highest 25% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±64 VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Monkton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.2% VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
29 min 24% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±4.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Monkton and Westford 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 | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.