Compare towns
Castleton vs Williston vs Wolcott
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 youngest population (median age 38.3).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Wolcott has the most kids (22.8% 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 | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453 |
10,144Highest |
1,507Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
42.4±5.9 about the VT average |
| Williston and Wolcott 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% |
22.8%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wolcott 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% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
| Williston and Castleton 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$221,300±$23kLowest 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,059±$118Lowest 14% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,930 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
27 minHighest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Wolcott 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 | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Wolcott School District |
| 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.