Compare towns
Shaftsbury 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
Shaftsbury has the most kids (26.5% under 18).
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 | Shaftsbury | Williston | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,607Lowest |
10,144Highest |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.2% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43±6.6 about the VT average |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Williston and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.5%±6.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Shaftsbury and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Shaftsbury and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,071±$24k 6% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
| Williston and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$24k 16% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,079±$54Lowest 13% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,015 20% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.7%±36 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 7.2%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #62 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.