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