Compare towns
Castleton vs Waterville 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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Waterville | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
680Lowest |
3,554 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
44.8±6.5 4% above VT |
| Waterville and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Windsor 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% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor 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% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
| Castleton and Waterville 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 |
$236,300±$15kHighest 25% below VT |
$207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
| Waterville and Castleton 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 |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$1,026±$89Lowest 17% below VT |
| Castleton and Waterville 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 |
$3,957 21% below VT |
$5,209Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Waterville 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% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
23 min 3% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Windsor and Waterville 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 | — | #61 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.