Compare towns
Fairlee vs Williston vs Castleton vs Townshend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Fairlee | Williston | Castleton | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066Lowest |
10,144Highest |
4,453 |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
55.6±9.6 29% above VT |
| Fairlee and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Williston and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.