Compare towns
Poultney 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
Poultney has the youngest population (median age 34).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Castleton has the most homeowners (79%).
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 | Poultney | Williston | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,010Lowest |
10,144Highest |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 34±5.6Lowest 21% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
| Williston and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 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+ | 22.8%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Poultney and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.3%±2.3 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,617±$6kLowest 11% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% 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 | $206,200±$18kLowest 35% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $913±$84Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,520 30% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±17.3Lowest 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 | 8.9% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 24% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Poultney 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 | #41 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Poultney High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.