Compare towns
Castleton vs Westford vs Putney
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).
Westford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
Putney has the most renters (27.2% 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 | Westford | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,290Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
44.1±8.6Highest about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Westford and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton and Putney 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% |
52.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Westford and Castleton 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 |
$6,282Highest 25% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Putney 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% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Westford and Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.