Compare towns
Castleton vs Waterbury vs White River Junction vs Williston
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).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Waterbury | White River Junction | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
5,405 |
3,364Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.3% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
| Williston and Waterbury 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% |
21.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Waterbury and Williston 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% |
19.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.2% VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$103,917±$23k 28% above VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Williston and Waterbury 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 |
$447,200±$40k 41% above VT |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Williston and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,435Highest 28% above VT |
$5,651 12% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Williston 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% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.6% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Waterbury 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 | #20 of 70 in VT | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.