Compare towns
Westford vs Castleton vs Grand Isle
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Grand Isle has the most kids (19.8% 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 | Westford | Castleton | Grand Isle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,290 |
4,453Highest |
2,192Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.1±8.6Highest about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
43.3±2.6 about the VT average |
| Westford and Grand Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Grand Isle and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.6%±2.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.5%±4.6 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$100,846±$22k 24% above VT |
| Westford and Grand Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$398,600±$33k 26% above VT |
| Westford and Grand Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,363±$530 10% above VT |
| Westford and Grand Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,282Highest 25% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,453 8% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.8%±31Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.8%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Grand Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 42% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
32 min 36% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.1%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.3%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Westford and Grand Isle 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 | — |
| School district | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Champlain Islands Unified Union School District #66 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.