Compare towns
Castleton vs Windham vs Newfields vs Shaftsbury
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Newfields has the most people working from home (25.5%).
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 | Windham | Newfields | Shaftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
16,038Highest |
2,023Lowest |
3,607 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
43±6.6 11% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
26.5%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Shaftsbury 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% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shaftsbury 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$189,583±$19k 135% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$86,071±$24k 7% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$267,300±$24k 20% below U.S. |
| Windham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,079±$54Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,015 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.7%±36 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Shaftsbury 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | — | #62 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham School District | Newfields School District | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.