Compare towns
Castleton vs Northfield vs Williston vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Windham has the most homeowners (84.6%).
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 | Northfield | Williston | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Lowest |
5,920 |
10,144 |
19,188Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
| Williston and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Windham and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Windham 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.