Compare towns
Springfield vs Williston vs Castleton vs Bradford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most homeowners (90.7%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Bradford has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
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 | Springfield | Williston | Castleton | Bradford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,122Lowest |
10,144Highest |
4,453 |
1,565 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.3±5.2 29% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bradford and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bradford and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$108,015±$21kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Bradford and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$341,700±$38k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,507±$206 7% above U.S. |
| Williston and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,946 91% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,307Highest 102% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±22.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Bradford 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 | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.