Compare towns
Castleton vs Springfield vs Windham vs Shaftsbury
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Shaftsbury has the most kids (26.5% under 18).
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 | Springfield | Windham | Shaftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,122 |
594Lowest |
3,607 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
43±6.6 11% above U.S. |
| Springfield 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% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
26.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Shaftsbury and Castleton 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% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Shaftsbury 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% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$86,071±$24k 7% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Windham 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. |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$267,300±$24k 20% below U.S. |
| Springfield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,079±$54Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,946 91% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,015 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.7%±36 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Shaftsbury 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Springfield 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 | — | — | #62 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | — | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.