Compare towns
Williamstown vs Castleton vs Waterville
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).
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Williamstown | Castleton | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,579 |
4,453Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±5 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
| Waterville and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton and Williamstown 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% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% 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±$24k 26% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$236,300±$15kHighest 25% below VT |
| Waterville and Williamstown 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 |
$1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,841 24% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,957Highest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest 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% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
| Williamstown and Waterville 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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 Our Story | 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.