Compare towns
Wilder vs Williston vs Castleton vs Royalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Royalton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1965).
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 | Wilder | Williston | Castleton | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087 |
10,144Highest |
4,453 |
2,752Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
| Wilder and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8 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+ | 27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$103,938±$24k 28% above VT |
| Williston and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$263,200±$73k 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,040±$391Lowest 16% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505 9% above VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,675 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest 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 | 9.3% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
20 minHighest 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Royalton 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 | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.