Compare towns
Castleton vs Reading vs Royalton 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 youngest population (median age 38.3).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Royalton has the highest household income ($104k).
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 | Reading | Royalton | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
699Lowest |
2,752 |
3,554 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
44.8±6.5 4% above VT |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Windsor and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor and Reading 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% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
39.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
| Royalton and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$263,200±$73k 17% below VT |
$207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
| Reading and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,040±$391 16% below VT |
$1,026±$89Lowest 17% below VT |
| Castleton and Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,675 7% below VT |
$5,209 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1 VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Reading 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.5% VT: 73.2% |
57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1965 11 yrs older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
23 min 3% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Royalton 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 | — | #48 of 70 in VT | #61 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | White River Unified School District #79 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | White River Valley High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.