Compare towns
Castleton vs Townshend vs Williston vs Windham
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).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Windham has the most homeowners (82.9%).
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 | Townshend | Williston | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
1,538 |
10,144Highest |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
| Townshend and Williston 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% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston 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 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Williston 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% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
| Williston 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 29% below VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Castleton 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.1 |
— | — |
| 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.