Compare towns
Walden vs Williston vs Castleton vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walden has the most homeowners (93.8%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Wells has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
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 | Walden | Williston | Castleton | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037Lowest |
10,144Highest |
4,453 |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
| Wells and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 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+ | 20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Williston and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,313±$282 6% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944 22% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,308 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Walden 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.