Compare towns
Colchester vs Williston vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colchester has the most renters (25.9% rent).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
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 | Colchester | Williston | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,648Highest |
10,144 |
4,453Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.4 9% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 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+ | 40.8% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±1.3 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,891±$9k 21% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
| Williston and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$25k 25% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$122 19% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,471 9% above VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.2%±10.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest 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 | 7% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minHighest 15% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 19%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Colchester 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 | #18 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Colchester School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Colchester High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
— | — |
| 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.