Compare towns
Castleton vs Williston vs Windham vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Williston has the oldest population (median age 45.4).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Windham | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Lowest |
10,144 |
16,038Highest |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Williston and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1993 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Windham 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 120 in NH | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Windham School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.