Compare towns
Castleton vs Williston vs Essex
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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Essex has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Williston | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Lowest |
10,144 |
11,516Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+12.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
42.4±1.9 about the VT average |
| Williston and Essex 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Essex 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% |
21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±3.3Lowest 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% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
57.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$110,199±$14kHighest 36% above VT |
| Essex and Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$447,300±$14k 41% above VT |
| Williston and Essex 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 |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,569±$138 27% above VT |
| Williston and Essex 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 |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$6,602Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
45.9%±13.1Lowest 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1990 14 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
22 minHighest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.5%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Essex 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 | #13 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| 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.