Compare towns
Castleton vs White River Junction vs Williamstown
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).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Williamstown has the highest household income ($94k).
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 | White River Junction | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
3,364Lowest |
3,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
42±5Highest about the VT average |
| Williamstown and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown and Castleton 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton and Williamstown 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% |
38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
| White River Junction and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown 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% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
23 minHighest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| White River Junction and Williamstown 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 | — | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.