Compare towns
Washington vs Castleton vs Williamstown vs Wheelock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
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 | Washington | Castleton | Williamstown | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,056 |
4,453Highest |
3,579 |
717Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42±5 about the VT average |
51±5.6 18% above VT |
| Washington and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,103±$8k 19% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
| Williamstown and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37k 31% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$234,900±$24kHighest 26% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
| Williamstown and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485 31% below VT |
$3,167 37% below VT |
$3,841Highest 24% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock and Washington 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #47 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
— |
| 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.