Compare towns
South Burlington vs Castleton vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Burlington has the most renters (38.4% rent).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | South Burlington | Castleton | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,756Highest |
4,453Lowest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.3% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.2±1.8Lowest 11% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
| Williston and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Highest 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+ | 67.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$13k 31% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Williston and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $443,400±$19k 40% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Williston and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,787±$59 45% above VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Williston and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,674Highest 32% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±7.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 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 | 7.2% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 13 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 25% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
20 minHighest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and South Burlington 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 | #12 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | South Burlington School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | South Burlington High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
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| 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.